Riots rock Northern Algeria

2004-03-09 17:52

Algiers - Outbreaks of violence which the Algerian press described as "riots" by disaffected youth have broken out in the past few days in several northern cities and towns, newspapers reported on Tuesday.

Youths protesting against unemployment, water shortages and what they called the failure of authorities to come up with promised development programmes took place in the Mediterranean coast town of Skikda, in Tizi Ouzou and Bouira, both main towns in the northeastern Kabylie province, and in Tiaret, 300km west of Algiers, the papers said.

The protesters attacked town halls and other administrative buildings, according to the reports.

At the end of February, demonstrators sacked public buildings in the northeastern Jijel region because they objected to unemployed youths not being given jobs at voting centres being set up ahead of presidential elections to be held on April 8.

Last month, dozens of youths attacked public buildings in the Sahara desert town of Ouargla when President Abdelaziz Bouteflika was visiting. They opposed the hiring of people from the north to work in the oil sector.

Local authorities have since closed the offending recruiting offices.

- SAPA