See also: » 11.03.2011 - Algeria protests risk losing momentum » 17.02.2011 - Students keep Algeria protests warm » 15.02.2011 - Call for massive renewed protests in Algeria » 14.02.2011 - Algeria govt seeks to avoid mass protests » 12.02.2011 - Saharawis at unease over Algeria, Morocco unrest » 03.02.2011 - "Algeria soon to lift state of emergency" » 03.02.2011 - Algeria prepares protests despite govt threats » 27.01.2011 - Algeria "must reduce oil dependence" to avoid unrest Houlihan's coupons

Finn autentiske matoppskrifter fra hele verden på Verdensmat.no: Gazpacho Børek Kartoffelsalat Taboulé Gulasj Albóndigas Cevapi Rougaille Japrak sarma Zwiebelbrot Klopse Giouvetsi Paella Pljeskavica Pica pau Pulpo a la gallega Flammkuchen Langosj Tapenade Chatsjapuri Pasulj Lassi Kartoffelpuffer Tortilla Raznjici Knödel Lentejas Bœuf bourguignon Korianderchutney Brenneslesuppe Proia Sæbsi kavurma Sardinske calamares

Autentiske matoppskrifter fra hele verden finner du på Verdensmat.no: Réunion Portugal Aserbajdsjan Serbia Tyskland Seychellene Bosnia Spania Libanon Belgia India Kroatia Hellas Italia Ungarn Komorene Georgia Mauritius Østerrike Romania Frankrike

Algerian police preventing Sunday's protests in Algiers

© Elias2033uk/afrol News

afrol News, 8 February - University students in Algeria have started an "indefinite strike", denouncing the poor quality of teaching. Meanwhile, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika is trying to stop the large protest marches announced for Saturday.

Students from several faculties in Algeria have decided to embark on an "indefinite strike", with manifestations in cities including Algiers, Oran, Tlemcen and Annaba. The students, according to the usually well-informed Algerian daily 'El Watan', principally are protesting the poor quality of education and a new qualification system, but are loosely connected to the general North African protest movement.

Following a presidential decree of December 2010, the formerly used "master" degree is now replaced by a "magisterial" degree, which also would mean that an engineer education will now end up with a title equivalent to a "professional education".

This seems to have been the last drop for Algerian student organisations, which already are complaining about the poor studying conditions and work possibilities faced in the country. Starting today, at least 500 students only in Algiers boycotted classes after announcing a large protest march to be organised tomorrow.

The student strike comes at a time when President Bouteflika is experiencing an increased popular pressure, following the events in Tunisia and Egypt. Currently, government is trying to avoid the holding of an announced mass protest march in Algiers on 12 February - next Saturday. The march is organised by the political opposition, human rights groups, trade unions, student organisations and an unemployed association.

The main demand of these groups originally was a lifting of Algeria's 19-year-old state of emergency, which permitted government to limit political rights and to a certain degree disrespect human rights. President Bouteflika quickly announced he had

Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika

© Gouv de Algerie/afrol News

ordered government to find a legal basis to lift the state of emergency by finding other ways of "fighting terrorism."

The Algerian President at the same time said government would accept popular protests anywhere in the country, but not in the capital, Algiers. This was reaffirmed yesterday, as government turned down the application of the organisers of the 12 February protests for an Algiers demonstration.

Authorities rather advised the demonstrators they could use the Mohamed Boudiaf sports arena to hold a public meeting. The arena has a maximum capacity of 10,000 persons, and the proposal was therefore rejected by the protesters.

The organisations preparing the 12 February protest march, despite authorities' rejection, today still say the popular manifestation will go on as planned in Algiers and other Algerian cities.

Outside Algiers, the protest marches however already have seen their small beginnings. On Sunday, the biggest protest so far in the country was organised in Annaba, a coastal city close to the Tunisian border, where hundreds of unemployed took to the streets and expressed their dissatisfaction with the Bouteflika government.

Around 300 protesters attacked the provincial government (wilaya) offices in Annaba, shouting slogans against the government and demanding jobs. Police forces confronted the protesters and dispersed the group, threatening to use force.

Also in Algiers, there was a smaller demonstration on Sunday in front of the Labour Ministry, estimated at around 100 participants. Also this protest was violently dispersed by police forces, detaining several of the protesters for some hours.

By staff writers

© afrol News

Tweet

Printable version

On the Afrol News front page now

Rwanda

Rwanda succeeds including citizens in formal financial sector afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda. Read more

Famine warning: "South Sudan is imploding" afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries. Read more

Guinea

Panic in West Africa after Ebola outbreak in Guinea afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease. Read more

Ethiopia

Ethiopia tightens its already strict anti-gay laws afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared. Read more

Ethiopia

Ethiopia plans Africa's biggest dam afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries. Read more