Blast in France, hotel hit

TOULOUSE (FRANCE), SEPT 18: An explosion destroyed a hotel near the Algerian consulate here on Friday. A local official said that there were no immediate reports of injuries, but rescue workers were searching the rubble and the cause was as yet unknown, although witnesses spoke of a smell of gas at the hotel prior to the blast.

The blast at 1655 GMT, flattening the four-floor hotel building. "On the face of it, this explosion has nothing to with the proximity of the Algerian consulate, which suffered no major damage as a result of the blast," said Michel Billaud, local representative for the Midi Pyrenees region where Toulouse is located.

The blast came the same day as the results of a poll showing a massive yes’ vote for Algerian President Bouteflika’s plan for peace in the former French colony, ravaged by a seven-year-old Islamist rebellion. "The cause of the explosion will be investigated," Billaud said.