Algeria's Interior Ministry said Thursday that a ethnic Berber march planned for next week in Algiers would be considered illegal, stressing a ban was still in place on all demonstrations in the capital.
A statement issued by the ministry noted "that certain individuals plan to organize a sit-in and march on August 8, 2001 in Algiers ... and recalls that organizing and carrying out a demonstration of this kind is forbidden in the capital."
The march is being organized by tribal and local councils in the Berber homeland of Kabylie in northeastern Algeria -- where mass social unrest and violent repression went hand-in-hand for some 10 weeks after a youth was killed in police custody on April 18.
A ban was issued against marches in Algiers following a violent anti-government protest on June 14 that drew a million people into the streets and resulted in considerable looting.
Six people died and hundreds were injured.
Authorities prevented a Berber-led demonstration on July 5 from going ahead in Algiers by blocking highways leading from Kabylie in eastern Algeria -- ALGIERS (AFP)
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
