Brussels - NATO and the European Union strongly condemned Tuesday's suicide bomb attack against a police academy in Algeria that left at least 43 people dead.

In a statement, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said there could be no justification for such a "heinous act." The NATO chief said the alliance would continue to cooperate with Algeria in "the fight against the scourge of terrorism."

The EU's external affairs commissioner, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said she was "profoundly shocked" by the bombing.

"Algeria can count on Europe for its support in the fight against terrorism," Ferrero-Waldner said.

Tuesday's attack in Algeria was the worst since a double car bombing in mid-December killed 41 people, including 17 United Nations workers.

No organization had yet taken responsibility for the attack by Tuesday afternoon. dpa( )