Ghardaia: man killed in clashes

Violent acts erupted once again on Wednesday in the province of Ghardaia (south of Algeria) after a 22-year-old man was killed and 30 people were wounded in bloody clashes.

According to sources, about 50 families fled the areas of Mermad, Cheikh Baba and Djema to stay in a primary school as tension was triggered again while security forces have been deployed for a month.

Earlier on Tuesday, thousands of residents took to the street to call for the release of all the people who were arrested in the violent acts.

Religious personalities and notables condemned violence and called on authorities to find out who is behind it.

Clashes have been sparked between Malikite and Ibadite partisans in Ghardaia for two months killing three people and wounding more than 200 including 50 officers and policemen.

A number of civil society’s representatives called on security authorities to find out how masked people obtained arms to attack residents.

Notables from both doctrines call for more deployment of security forces in the area. They believe that people who trigger those violent acts are strangers.