BBC News Middle East
12 February 2011 Last updated at 10:31 GMT Pro-democracy rally begins in Algeria, defying ban Riot police in Algiers (22 January 2011) Demonstrations are banned in Algeria because of a state of emergency in place since 1992 Hundreds of people are holding a pro-democracy rally in Algeria's capital Algiers, defying a government ban. Reports say scuffles broke out during the demonstration, and a number of people were arrested by riot police. Algeria - like Egypt, Tunisia and other countries in the region - has recently witnessed demonstrations for greater freedoms. Public demonstrations are banned in Algeria because of a state of emergency since 1992. Some 25,000 police have been reportedly deployed in Algiers ahead of the demonstration. On Friday, police stopped people from gathering to celebrate the fall of Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak. The BBC's Chloe Arnold in Algiers say the authorities want to avert any popular uprising similar to those in Tunisia and Egypt. "We are ready for the march," Mohsen Belabes, a spokesman for the small Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD) opposition party, said earlier. "It's going to be a great day for democracy in Algeria," he told Reuters news agency. 'Armoured vehicles' A heavy police presence is normal in Algeria but far more officers than usual were in place hours before the protest started on Saturday. At least 15 police vans, jeeps and buses were lined up at 1 May Square, the venue of the demonstration, and about the same number on a nearby side-street outside the city's Mustapha hospital. Small military-style armoured vehicles were also parked at junctions around the city. There is also said to be a crowd of supporters of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on the streets. Earlier this month, Mr Bouteflika said the country's state of emergency would be lifted in the "very near future". Mr Bouteflika made the announcement at a meeting with government ministers in the capital Algiers, according to the country's state-run media. He said protests would be allowed everywhere in the country except in the capital. ------------------------------------ Post message: [email protected] Subscribe : [email protected] Unsubscribe : [email protected] List owner : [email protected] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
