Police crack down on protesters in Algeria

PanARMENIAN.Net - Thousands of riot police have been deployed in the capital of Algeria to stop an anti-government demonstration from gathering the momentum of the protests that forced out the Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak.

About 50 protesters managed to reach the square in Algiers where the protest was due to take place but they were surrounded by hundreds of police and some were arrested.

Opposition groups have called for a march to demand democratic change and jobs, but it has been banned by government officials and most residents have so far stayed away.

"I am sorry to say the government has deployed a huge force to prevent a peaceful march. This is not good for Algeria's image," Mustafa Bouachichi, a leader of the League for Human Rights, said.

Protesters who managed to reach May 1 Square, where the march was due to begin at 11am (10am GMT) shouted "Bouteflika out!" – a reference to the Algerian president – before police arrested some of them, The Guardian reported.

Near Kennedy Square, about 2 miles from the centre, police outnumbered residents.

Mubarak's resignation yesterday and the overthrow of Tunisia's leader last month have led many to ask which country in the region could be next for regime change.