ALGIERS, July 11: A suicide bomber rammed an explosives-packed truck into an Algerian barracks on Wednesday killing eight soldiers a few hours before a major African sporting event begun in the capital, security sources said.

The young bomber drove the refrigerated truck into the entrance of the barracks at Lakhdaria, 70km southeast of Algiers, witnesses said. About 20 people were wounded, some critically, security sources said.

A major security operation was launched around Lakhdaria, in parallel to the huge precautions taken for the All-Africa Games which involve 8,000 athletes from more than 20 countries.Thousands of extra police have been deployed in and around the competition venues and athletes’ villages ahead of the opening of the games.—AFP