Algiers - In the latest of a series of terrorist attacks, a high-ranking Algerian army officer was killed in a bomb attack in northern Algeria and f further soldier badly wounded, media reports said Saturday.

The attack took place on Friday ahead of an election rally appearance by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in the region. The rally went ahead despite the attack.

The bombing came at the end of a week of bloodshed in which dozens of people were killed in attacks and clashes.

The violence is ascribed to the effor by the radical Islamic terrorists to try to create unrest ahead of the scheduled April 9 elections.

Bouteflika, in power since 1999, is regarded as the top favourite in the, and has vowed to continue a sharp crackdown on extremists. On Thursday, security forces killed six suspected terrorists, according to media accounts. (dpa)