- Title: FRANCE: French Algerians join protest wave sweeping Arab world
- Date: 19th February 2011
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (FEBRUARY 18, 2011) (REUTERS) ALGERIAN DEMONSTRATORS PUTTING A BANNER "CHANGE THE REGIME" ACROSS A PARIS STATUE PROTESTERS PUTTING BANNERS ON THE FOUNTAIN FRENCH ALGERIAN PROTESTERS WITH LOUD SPEAKERS FRENCH ALGERIAN PROTESTERS SIGNING PROTEST AROUND PARIS FOUNTAIN PROTESTERS WITH ALGERIAN FLAGS BANNERS AROUND THE FOUNTAIN (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH ALGERIAN PROTESTER LINDA BOUGHERA SAYING: "We are gathering today because things are changing and Algeria is changing, and all the political opinions should get themselves around a table and discuss it. Or at least we should stop dividing ourselves. We should gather together, that is the message, that is the hope and the future for us all." ALGERIAN PROTESTERS ALGERIAN PROTESTER WITH FLAG AND BANNERS ON STATUE
- Embargoed: 6th March 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: France, France
- Country: France
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA6B4U0DLV13T1PN5EHL6LA2LAD
- Story Text: Algerian expatriates living in French gathered in Paris on Friday (February 18) to show solidarity with the protest movement in their homeland as they seek to emulate the Arab world's popular revolt.
A few hundred demonstrators, Algerians and French protesters, gathered in central Paris to call for regime change and the removal of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
Rulers in several countries, drawing lessons from events in Tunisia and Egypt, have announced political changes and moved to cut prices of basic foodstuffs and raise spending on job creation in efforts to pre-empt spreading unrest.
Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika promised to lift a 19-year-old state of emergency soon and has acted to reduce the cost of staple foods in the North African oil and gas exporter.
Authorities deployed an estimated 30,000 police in Algiers on Saturday to prevent a banned pro-democracy march. Several hundred protesters defied the ban and dozens were detained.
A coalition of civil society and human rights groups and an opposition party vowed afterwards to demonstrate every Saturday until the military-backed government is removed. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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