Fresh concern arises over Algerian security after suicide attack

ALGIERS, Aug. 19 (Chinese media) -- A suicide bombing attack killed 43 people and

injured 45 others outside an Algerian military academy Tuesday, sending fresh

shudders to tens of thousands living across the North African country.

Eyewitnesses said a suicide bomber rammed his car loaded with explosives

into the waiting crowds outside the academy in Issers, 55 km east of the capital

Algiers.

Many victims of the deadly blasts were young applicants waiting for

registration at the academy, local media said.

Although nobody has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, many put the

blame on the north African wing of the Al Qaeda, which has launched a series of

suicide attacks on military and security personnel in the country.

The bombing is very "symbolic" as the attackers view police force as part

of the institution trying to crush them, AP cited Khadijia Mohsen-Finam, a

political analyst with the French think tank IFRI, as saying.

"For extremists to target police is like hitting a symbol of repression, it

can help them rally a segment of the population," she said.

Meanwhile, when he visited the scene of the blast, Algerian Interior

Minister Noureddine Yazid Zerhouni vowed to "take whatever measures necessary

against those responsible," saying that the attack revealed the desperation of

the besieged Algerian terrorists.

"These terrorist gangs are seeking through attacks against civilians to

loosen the net closing around them as the security forces drive them to the

wall," the minister said.

Security situations in Algeria improved in the past few months with only

sporadic attacks after the deadly twin bombings in December, which killed 41

people, including 17 staff members of the United Nations.

Analysts warn the government against being over-optimistic and downplaying

the potential threat posed by the terrorists. In fact, there are widespread

concerns in Algeria that terrorists may stage more such attacks as the country's

presidential election is only months away.

Tuesday's attack showed that terrorists are "well-entrenched on the ground

and seem to be able to hit significant targets," Political analyst Mahmoud

Belhimer was quoted as saying.

As one of the most deadly attacks in Algeria in recent years, the blast

also rattled the nerves of many people outside the African country.

Following the attack, many countries and international organizations have

expressed their anger and condemned the "barbarous act of terrorism."

The EU's French presidency said in a statement that "once again, the

Algerian people are victims of indiscriminate and barbaric terrorist attacks"

and the EU will continue its support for the Algerian authorities in their fight

against terrorism.

"It's another reminder that terrorism can hit any place, anytime, anywhere

and we all -- the international community -- have to stamp this out because in

the end, terrorism is a threat to all of us," the U.S. State Department

spokesman Robert Wood said.

The United States is willing to help with the probe over the blast if

Algeria asks, the spokesman added.

Meanwhile, NATO also pledged to enhance cooperation with Algeria and other

countries in the Mediterranean region in the fight against the scourge of

terrorism.