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DATE=9/19/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-238925
TITLE=ALGERIA / BOMB UPDATE (S & L )
BYLINE=RICHARD ENGEL
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  A POWERFUL BOMB EXPLOSION HAS RIPPED THROUGH A PUBLIC 
MARKET IN ALGERIA.  RICHARD ENGEL IN CAIRO REPORTS AUTHORITIES 
SAY THE BLAST KILLED AT LEAST 29 PEOPLE AND WOUNDED MORE THAN 
SIXTY.
TEXT:  ALGERIAN POLICE SAID THE BOMB EXPLODED OUTSIDE THE CITY OF
TIARET, ABOUT 320 KILOMETERS SOUTHEAST OF THE CAPITAL, ALGIERS.
SECURITY FORCES DESCRIBED THE EXPLOSIVE DEVICE AS HOMEMADE, 
SIMILAR TO THOSE USED IN THE PAST BY ISLAMIC REBELS WHO OPPOSE 
THE ALGERIAN GOVERNMENT.
HOWEVER,  NO  ONE HAS CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE BOMBING.
THE BLAST IS THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF ATTACKS FOLLOWING THE 
ANNOUNCEMENT LAST WEEK THAT ALGERIA'S PRESIDENT WILL STEP DOWN 
AND CALL FOR EARLY ELECTIONS.
ALGERIA'S PRESIDENT, LIAMINE ZEROUAL, HAS  NOT  BEEN ABLE TO HALT
THE COUNTRY'S SIX-YEAR CIVIL WAR AND HAS BEEN CRITICIZED BY HUMAN
RIGHTS GROUPS FOR  NOT  DOING ENOUGH TO REIN IN THE COUNTRY'S 
ARMED FORCES. HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS HAVE ACCUSED ALGERIA'S MILITARY
OF  WIDESPREAD HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES. 
                       ///  REST OPT  ///
GOVERNMENT FORCES HAVE BEEN BATTLING WITH ISLAMIC REBELS SINCE 
1992, WHEN ALGERIA'S GOVERNMENT CANCELED AN ELECTION THAT THE 
ISLAMISTS WERE SET TO WIN.
SINCE THEN, WESTERN OBSERVERS ESTIMATE THAT AS MANY AS 
65-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN VIOLENCE.  (SIGNED) 
NEB/RHE/JWH
19-Sep-98 8:54 AM EDT (1254 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.