Algeria criticises blast outside Italian consulate in Cairo

Algeria's Foreign Ministry on Saturday strongly condemned a terror attack that took place close to the Italian consulate in downtown Cairo.

In a statement, the spokesman for the ministry Benali Cherif said the blast violated all international norms and conventions that provides for the inviolability of diplomatic missions and consulates.

Perpetrators for such cowardly attacks aim to spreed a state of fear among the Egyptian people and Egypt's international partners, the spokesman said.

This is a far-fetched matter and will never happen thanks to the determination of the Egyptian people and the solidarity of the international community with the country in its war against terrorism in all its forms, the spokesman added.

Algeria also stressed support to Egypt and Italy against terrorism in the region.

According to the initial inspection of the prosecution, a car bomb exploded in front of the Italian consulate in Cairo earlier on Saturday, killing one person and injuring nine others.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the early morning blast, which caused heavy damage to the consulate. It shook other buildings downtown and could be heard in several surrounding neighbourhoods.

Italy's Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said there were no Italian victims in the blast. "Italy will not be intimidated," he said on Twitter.