Algerian braces for second pro-democracy rally

The new march on Saturday comes amid weeks of strikes and scattered protests in the North African country, which has promised to lift a 19—year state of emergency by month’s end in a nod to the growing mass of disgruntled citizens.

Pro—democracy protesters in Algeria have vowed to hold a march even though thousands of police blocked their path a week ago.

The new march on Saturday comes amid weeks of strikes and scattered protests in the North African country, which has promised to lift a 19—year state of emergency by month’s end in a nod to the growing mass of disgruntled citizens.

University students and nurses are among those who have held intermittent strikes, joined by the unemployed. Even the richest region, around the gas fields of Hassi Messaoud, was not spared as around 500 jobless youth protested on Wednesday, the daily El Watan reported.

Rising food prices led to five days of riots in Algeria last month that left three people dead.