Suicide bombers had been given amnesty, Algerian official says

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — Two convicted terrorists who had been freed in an amnesty carried out the suicide bombings at U.N. and government buildings that killed 37 people, an Algerian security official said Thursday.

One of the bombers was a 64-year-old man in the advanced stages of cancer, while the other was a 32-year-old from a poor suburb that has produced many Islamic militants, the security official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

The government has offered amnesties to try to end a 15-year Islamic insurgency, resulting in thousands of militants turning themselves in, but sparking fierce criticism from the families of victims.

Al-Qaida’s self-styled North African branch has claimed responsibility for the twin truck bombings Tuesday, which came 10 minutes apart.

Victims included U.N. staff from around the world, police officers and law students.

President Bush called Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Thursday to discuss the attacks and offer his condolences, White House press secretary Dana Perino said.

The Interior Ministry raised the death toll in the bombings to 37, saying six more bodies had been found in the rubble of the U.N. offices.