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Algeria faces renewed Berber unrest

Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Tuesday, April 24, 2001

CAIRO — The government of President Abdul Aziz Bouteflika is facing a new front in efforts to stabilize Algeria -- unrest from the minority Berber population.

The Berber region in northeast Algeria has been rocked by riots since last week after the killing of a Berber teenager by an Algerian security officer. The teenager was killed on Wednesday during demonstrations held to commemorate the 1980 Algerian crackdown on the Berbers.

So far, an estimated 50 people have been injured in violent demonstrations in the Kabylie region. The riots resumed on Monday during the burial of the teenager killed last week.

Authorities said the killing of the teenager was an accident. But earlier, authorities said the youth was shot while commiting a robbery.

The Berber unrest has included clashes with Algeria's gendarmarie, attacks on police installations and vehicles. Police have responded with tear gas. <>

Tuesday, April 24, 2001


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