Car Bomb Kills 9 At Algerian Hotel

A car bomb exploded at a hotel 50 miles east of Algiers on Thursday, killing nine people and wounding 19, security forces said.

Witnesses said the explosion heavily damaged the hotel in Draa ben Khedda.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Algeria has been plagued by a three-year insurgency by militant groups trying to topple the military-backed government and install strict Islamic rule.