[url]http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/algeria/8320273/Algerian-protesters-clash-with-police.html[/url]
Thousands of people defied an official ban on demonstrations in the Algerian capital and gathered in the city center for an pro-reform protest, the day after weeks of mass protests in Egypt succeeded in toppling the president.
[quote]Organizers of the march estimated some 10,000 people had flooded downtown Algiers, where they skirmished with riot police attempting to block off streets and disperse the crowd. Some arrests were reported.
Government opponents called for a mass protest march to demand democratic change and jobs.
But some local residents stayed away and thousands of police in riot gear were moved to the capital to try and enforce a ban on the march.
"I am sorry to say the government has deployed a huge force to prevent a peaceful march. This is not good for Algeria's image," said Mustafa Bouachichi, a leader of the League for Human Rights which is helping organise the protest.
The protesters on May 1 Square, near the centre of the city, shouted "Bouteflika Out!" – a reference to the Algerian president – and some waved copies of a newspaper front page with the headline "Mubarak has fallen!"
The resignation on Friday of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and last month's overthrow of Tunisia's leader, have electrified the Arab world and led many to ask which country could be next in a region where an explosive mix of authoritarian rule and popular anger is the norm.
Widespread unrest in Algeria could have implications for the world economy because it is a major oil and gas exporter. But many analysts say a revolt is unlikely because the government can use its energy wealth to resolve most grievances.
The protest march was began at May 1 Square at 11am (10am GMT).
When a handful of protesters arrived there two hours in advance, police arrested some of them and encircled the rest.
A small counter-protest started up nearby, with people chanting "We want peace not chaos!" and "Algeria is not Egypt!"
A police helicopter hovered over the neighbourhood and about 200 officers in helmets and armed with batons were at the square. Dozens of police vehicles were parked nearby.
Thousands more police were on standby in other parts of Algiers, a city of densely packed whitewashed buildings on a steep hillside sloping down to the Mediterranean Sea.
Near Kennedy Square, about two miles from the centre, police outnumbered local residents. They milled around in riot gear, drinking coffee, smoking and reading newspapers.
Other Arab countries have also felt the ripples from the revolts in Egypt and Tunisia. Jordan's King Abdullah replaced his prime minister after protests and in Yemen, President Ali Abdullah Saleh promised opponents he would not seek a new term.
Protest organisers in Algeria – who say they draw some of their inspiration from events in Egypt and Tunisia – said police were turning people away before they could reach the march, or parallel protests planned for other cities.
"Algerians must be allowed to express themselves freely and hold peaceful protests in Algiers and elsewhere," the rights group Amnesty International said in a statement.
The government says it refused permission for the rally for public order reasons, not because it is trying to stifle dissent. It says it is working hard to create jobs and build new homes, and has promised more democratic freedoms.
Saturday's protest is not backed by Algeria's main trade unions, its biggest opposition parties or the radical Islamist groups which were banned in the early 1990s but still retain grassroots influence.
The march "is likely to be violent, but unlikely to destabilise the regime," said Eurasia Group, a political risk consultancy.[/quote]
[editline]12th February 2011[/editline]
there seems to be sort of a dominos effect going on in arab world right now. why couldnt iraq, iran, and afganistan do the same thing?
UPDATE
Algeria shuts down internet and Facebook as protest mounts
[url]http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/algeria/8320772/Algeria-shuts-down-internet-and-Facebook-as-protest-mounts.html?sms_ss=twitter&at_xt=4d56f1c2c415511f,0[/url]
[quote]Plastic bullets and tear gas were used to try and disperse large crowds in major cities and towns, with 30,000 riot police taking to the streets in Algiers alone.
There were also reports of journalists being targeted by state-sponsored thugs to stop reports of the disturbances being broadcast to the outside world.
But it was the government attack on the internet which was of particular significance to those calling for an end to President Abdelaziz Boutifleka's repressive regime.
Protesters mobilising through the internet were largely credited with bringing about revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia.
"The government doesn't want us forming crowds through the internet," said Rachid Salem, of Co-ordination for Democratic Change in Algeria.
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"Security forces are armed to the teeth out on the street, and they're also doing everything to crush our uprising on the internet. Journalists, and especially those with cameras, are being taken away by the police." President Hosni Mubarak had tried to shut down internet service providers during 18 days of protest before stepping down as Egyptian leader on Friday.
Mostafa Boshashi, head of the Algerian League for Human Rights, said: "Algerians want their voices to be heard too. They want democratic change.
"At the moment people are being prevented from travelling to demonstrations. The entrances to cities like Algeria have been blocked."
At least five people were killed in similar protests in Algeria in January, when the Interior Ministry said 1000 people were arrested.
On Saturday at least 500 had been arrested by early evening in Algiers alone, with hundreds more in Annaba, Constantine and Oran taking part in the so-called February 12 Revolution.
"The police station cells are overflowing," said Sofiane Hamidouche, a demonstrator in Annaba.
"There are running battles taking place all over the city. It's chaos. As night falls the situation will get worse."
Algeria has the eighth largest reserves of natural gas in the world, and is also oil-rich, but its youthful population suffers mass unemployment, a chronic lack of housing, and widespread poverty. Political corruption is also endemic.[/quote]
This is a good thing. Not the clashes and violence, but when the oppressed people stand up against their oppressors.
alot of shit haves been going on this latey
Everything actually started in Algeria, but never made the media, only when Tunesia did it and our precious holidays and tourists were at risk people started to care.
lets just nuke the fuck out of the middle east.nothing good comes from there anyway
[QUOTE=gRuKz;28013933]lets just nuke the fuck out of the middle east.nothing good comes from there anyway[/QUOTE]
algeria
middle east
what
[QUOTE=gRuKz;28013933]lets just nuke the fuck out of the middle east.nothing good comes from there anyway[/QUOTE]
I hope someone who knows the difference between North Africa and the middle east is in charge of the nukes though.
[QUOTE=gRuKz;28013933]lets just nuke the fuck out of the middle east.nothing good comes from there anyway[/QUOTE]
Uhh.
[img]http://gyazo.com/ee72e72363b33d51be86a4c47c903291.png[/img]
[QUOTE=ain'tprobydoby;28013859]Everything actually started in Algeria, but never made the media, only when Tunesia did it and our precious holidays and tourists were at risk people started to care.[/QUOTE]
Is Tunisia really on the top of that many people's vacation lists?
[QUOTE=Mingebox;28014006]Is Tunisia realyly on the top of that many people's vacation lists?[/QUOTE]
Yes, at least in western europe. From The Netherlands alone there are thousands that go there each year. And why wouldn't they? Food is relatively cheap, big cities are open 24 hours a day, a lot of clubs, blue sea. What's not to like.
And since no one goes to Algeria (apparently a brooding place for terrorists) the media never really cared.
[QUOTE=Waals Vander;28011950]
there seems to be sort of a dominos effect going on in arab world right now. why couldnt iraq, iran, and afganistan do the same thing?[/QUOTE]
Iraq is already a democracy. Iran is able to put down their protests because they're a police state.
Afghanistan is occupied by US troops.
Sorry, I didn't read that article until I had finished amusing myself with your avatar. Its just too funny. But all these protests in Opressed countires is very good. I hope I get to live long enough to experience a time of almost world peace.
I'm half Algerian, thankfully most of my relatives on that side don't live there. In all probability, if this escalates it'll be more violent than the Egyptian protests
From what I read on the BBC earlier the Algierian Government is more prepared to handle the situation. I hope it ends well for the protesters, but I don't know if the same outcome can or will be achieved.
Update
Algeria shuts down internet and Facebook as protest mounts
[url]http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/algeria/8320772/Algeria-shuts-down-internet-and-Facebook-as-protest-mounts.html?sms_ss=twitter&at_xt=4d56f1c2c415511f,0[/url]
now we just wait until the wave of protests hits america and then we can get obummer out of office......
[QUOTE=makingthatmaker;28022073]now we just wait until the wave of protests hits america and then we can get obummer out of office......[/QUOTE]
even if you dont like obama (which i assume you dont) he is not anywhere near the level of someone who is a dictator of a country for 30 years. I had to try and explain that to my mom earlier tonight.
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