Laghouat Governor Succumbs to Protesters, Riots Calmed Down

The prefect of Laghouat province has succumbed to the pressure of the protesters’ demand to cancel the attribution of houses to people living in shanty towns, after an urgent meeting with protester representatives and elders of the city.

A wide protest movement sparked in Laghouat downtown over the attribution of new houses to people installed in a shanty town, while overlooking thousand residents of Laghouat who deserve more to be granted a house.

The protest movement which left dozen Injured when upset residents clashed with anti riot forces, was finally calmed down after the prefect ordered to cancel the recent housing program, as people who have been granted a house are due to be moved away, pending finding another place for them.

The protesters chanted anti local authorities slogans, and claimed the departure of the prefect, when the list of the housing benefiters was made public.

Meanwhile, the prefect ordered to open an investigation with shanty town residents who were attributed new houses in al-Wiam (Concorde) neighborhood, after circulating information that the majority of them already possess houses and estate elsewhere.

The protesters told Echorouk reporter that they will be carrying on their peaceful movement in the downtown and demand the departure of the prefect, until the shanty town residents are entirely moved away from the Concorde neighborhood, and grant the 186 houses to deserving residents of Laghouat.