Drukdal's gruop Claims Two Suicide Bombings in Eastern Algeria

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) claimed two coordinated suicide bombings in the town of Bordj Menaiel, Eastern Algeria, in a communiqué issued on jihadist forums on July 19, 2011.

Al Qaeda's north African branch frequently attacks security forces in rural areas of Algeria, but it has been months since there have been any bombings in the centre of a town.

AQIM said in its communique that it had carried out two coordinated suicide bombings at the police station in the town on Saturday, killing 15 security forces.

It said these attacks followed two bombings by AQIM fighters in Baghlia town on July 13 and 14.

Algeria, an energy exporter in North Africa, is still emerging from nearly two decades of conflict between security forces and Islamist militants that, at its peak in the 1990s, killed an estimated 200,000 people.

In the past few years the violence has been reduced significantly, but the militants -- who now operate as AQIM -- still carry out ambushes, kidnappings and occasional bombings.

Bordj Menaiel is in the mountainous Kabylie region, where AQIM has its headquarters for northern Algeria, and where many of the attacks are concentrated.