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Russian leader condemns Algeria terrorist blasts

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The Russian president expressed his condolences on Wednesday to relatives of at least 65 people killed in a series of terrorist blasts in Algeria over the past two days.
MOSCOW, August 20 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian president expressed his condolences on Wednesday to relatives of at least 65 people killed in a series of terrorist blasts in Algeria over the past two days.

A double car bombing on Wednesday, targeting a hotel and military barracks in Bouira, 150 km (90 miles) to the east of the capital Algiers, killed 11 civilians and wounded 31 people, including four servicemen.

On Tuesday a suicide car bombing at a police academy in the Les Issers district of Boumerdes, about 55 km (35 miles) east of Algiers, killed 43 and wounded 45 people. Earlier in the day, 11 servicemen and one civilian were killed in an ambush by armed militants 350 km (220 miles) to the east of the capital.

"I am deeply appalled by the terrorist attacks committed on August 19 and 20, in which dozens of Algerian citizens lost their lives," Dmitry Medvedev was quoted by the Kremlin as saying in a message to his Algerian counterpart, Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

"I extend my sincere condolences to you, to the relatives and friends of those killed, and to the Algerian people. I strongly condemn these atrocities," the Russian president said.

Medvedev voiced Russia's strong support for Algeria in the country's fight against extremism and terrorism.

No groups have yet claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Last December the North African arm of al Qaeda claimed responsibility for two truck bombings outside a United Nations building in Algiers, which killed about 30 people, including UN staffers.

Algeria was engulfed in violence after the military scrapped 1992 elections that the Islamic Salvation Front had been expected to win. More than 100,000 people died during the subsequent insurgency.

In 2005, tensions eased after the government issued the Peace and National Reconciliation Charter, releasing more than 2,000 former Islamist guerrillas under an amnesty aimed at bringing the conflict to an end.

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