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| Africa North |
| The wilaya of Algiers confirms ban on a march |
| 2011-02-08 |
| [Ennahar] The wilaya (Prefecture) of Algiers announced Monday it had rejected a request for authorization of an opposition march in Algiers on February 12 and proposed as an alternative to its initiative to organize a demonstration in a large room in the capital. "In accordance with regulations in force, a refusal was notified to the authors of this demand," said the wilaya in a statement. The event will be held in "one of several venues in the capital, including the dome of Boudiaf Olympic complex with a capacity of 10,000 seats," it said, quoted by APS. The National Coordination for Change and Democracy (NCCD), comprising opposition and civil society, born in the wake of riots against high prices in early January, called for a march Saturday in Algiers to demand the lifting of the particular state emergency, in force since February 1992 and a "system change". Last Saturday, the CNDC decided to maintain its course despite the liberalization measures announced Thursday by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, a month after the riots against high prices that had killed five people. The Head of State had also recalled that Algiers was banned in the demonstrations but that steps could be held elsewhere. For the authorities, the ban on marches in Algiers is justified by "public order reasons." On 30 January the Minister of Interior Dahou Ould Kablia had also told the newspaper Liberté that no march would be allowed. Street demonstrations are banned in the capital of Algeria since June 14, 2001 when a march in favor of Kabylia had turned into a riot which left eight dead and hundreds injured. The National Coordinating gathers including the Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD, opposition), the Algerian League for the Defense of Human Rights (LADDH) and representatives of civil society. |
| Posted by:Fred |