The New Nation - Internet Edition

Reuters, Algiers

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will visit Algeria on Tuesday to express support for the country after a December 11 twin bombing that killed at least 37 people including 17 U.N. staff, state media reported.

The attacks, the second big bombing this year in the capital of the north African OPEC member country, destroyed two U.N. buildings in the city's Hydra district and damaged the Constitutional Court building in Ben Aknoun district.

Ban was expected to meet President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and visit the Hydra bomb site.

Al Qaeda's North African wing claimed responsibility for the bombs, saying it had targeted what it called "the slaves of America and France."