Nine killed in Algeria bombing
A bomb attack has killed nine security guards and injured three others in northern Algeria near a power facility, officials have said.
The security agents were working for the facility operated by Algeria's national electricity provider, Sonelgaz, near Ziama Mansouriah, a locality of the Jijel area when the bombing occurred at their housing compound.
Reports say the bombing on Sunday was preceded by mortar fire on the security agents' housing compound.
Algerian authorities made no immediate comment on the attack, the second against security agents from the Spas security company in recent years.
The bombing has not been claimed, but it came as al-Qaida's Algerian offshoot vowed to step up attacks in the North African country ahead of presidential elections in April.