Algeria / Security forces harshly quell a protest demonstration by striking teachers outside the Presidency of the Republic.

Police forces, backed by anti-riot units, harshly dispersed on Tuesday a peaceful demonstration staged by striking contract teachers in the vicinity of the premises of the Presidency of the Republic in upper Algiers.

• 9 of the protestors were arrested by the security forces who used baton charges to brutally disperse the small crowd of striking teachers who wanted to stage a sit-in outside the Presidency of the Republic in an attempt to draw the higher authorities’ attention to their legitimate socio-professional claims.
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• All access roads leading to the Presidency premises were blocked by security forces for several hours.
• The contract teachers have been observing for more than a month now a hunger – strike to press for their claims but their desperate protest action has, so far, been ignored by the National Education Ministry.
• The protest demonstration staged on Tuesday brought together striking contract teachers hailing from various provinces of the country including Bejaia, Chlef, Tamanrasset, Guelma, Adrar, Tissemsilt, Algiers, Mostaganem, Batna, Annaba, Blida, Boumerdes and Médéa as well as several human rights activists who wanted by their presence to voice their firm support for the strikers.