Many dead in Algeria blast

First reports said a unit of coastguards was in the barracks.

 

 

On Thursday, a bomber left at least 19 people dead in a failed assassination bid against Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the president, in Batna, in the east of the country.

 

The bomber in Batna blew himself up shortly before a scheduled visit by Bouteflika, who was on a three-day tour of eastern Algeria.

 

Bouteflika blamed Islamist rebels for the Batna blast, denouncing them as “criminals” trying to scuttle his policy of national reconciliation.

 

Bouteflika says his policy aims to end 15 years of fighting between the army and groups opposed to the government.