A large explosion has rocked the centre of the Algerian capital, Algiers, near the university.

At least one person has been killed. But the afternoon bombing took place on a crowded street packed with students so the number of casualties could rise.

Ambulances and police vehicles were seen rushing through the city and witnesses say they saw people covered with blood fleeing the scene.

The blast came a day after two bombs, one in Algiers and the other in a village just to the west, killed up to nine people and wounded 50.

Two small bombs had exploded earlier in central Algiers but without causing any casualties.

The explosions follows a visit by a European Union delegation to discuss the recent wave of massacres.

During their visit European ministers called on the authorities to produce specific proposals on how Europe can help end the continuing violence there.

The visit by the EU envoys was the first such effort by the West to end violence that has killed an estimated 75,000 people since 1992, when an Islamic insurgency began.

The violence has escalated in recent weeks. More than 1,000 people have been killed in massacres and other attacks across Algeria since the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan at the end of December.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks but the Algerian government blames Islamic militants for the violence.
 

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage	©