25.000 policemen to secure Algiers protests: Strife among protesters and fear of violence

Algeria's opposition has said it will go ahead with a planned protest on Saturday despite a ban by authorities.

Political parties and positions divided on the march of Saturday February 12, between supporters, opponents and neutral, but all indicators, data and statements confirm the existence of some parties which try to exploit the legitimate demands of poor and peaceful protesters to achieve their political and personal objectives that have nothing to do with priorities and concerns of Algerians.

And even if all political parties embraced these marches, with allies, partners, opponents and enemies, whether in power or position, and within the parties of presidential coalition, all adopted the popular demands and supported the peaceful protests.

However, many factors like the political exploitation and suspicious use of the street by some political parties and figures including those who resigned or retired, but want to make trouble among Algerians who refuse categorically to return to the black decade.

on the other side, Algeria authorities mobilized 25,000 policemen ahead of an opposition rally planned for the capital Algiers on Saturday for an end to a state of emergency slapped in Algeria for almost 20 years, as reported in Echorouk on Thursday.

According to Echorouk official sources half of the new reinforcements are anti-riot policemen to be stationed across the capital.

Hoping to build on the momentum generated by the uprising in neighboring Tunisia and Egypt, the National Coordination for Change and Democracy (CNCD), a body of opposition parties and civil society groups, has called for the march and said it would defy a ban on protests.

Algerian authorities have banned protests since 2001 after protests in the Kabylie region left eight dead and hundreds wounded.

Last week, Algerian president pledged to lift Algeria’s state of emergency and allow more democratic freedoms.

Earlier the year, riots and protests broke out across Algeria against skyrocketing food prices and unemployment. Four people were been killed and 800, including 736 policemen, were wounded in the protests.