Algeria ups security for year-end tourism

ALGIERS-Around 5,000 security agents have been mobilized to protect the around 1,000 Europeans expected to arrive for New Year's celebrations in the Sahara desert.

 Security forces would be deployed around the four southern provinces anticipating the arrival of the Germans, French and Italians to celebrate the end of the year.

The forces would be posted around hotels, tourist sites, and will man road blocks on principle roads.

The local branch of al-Qaida has kidnapped around 50 foreign tourists in the remote southern wastes of Algeria and neighboring countries since 2003.