Policemen protest in Ghardaia

Policemen took to the street Monday in the province of Ghardaia (south of Algeria) after 20 of their colleagues had been wounded. Three of them are in a serious state as one policeman was taken to a hospital in Algiers.

The policemen were wounded in clashes among residents in the municipality of Berriane. National police chief Abdelghani Hamel was seen there.

The national road next to the central security headoffice in the province’s center city was blocked by policemen. They called for extreme punishment against the attackers and the improvement of their working conditions.

Two police cars, five houses, 13 shops and two factories were burnt in the clashes. A part of an official headquarters and administrative offices were destroyed as well.

They also marched in the city repeating revolutionary recitations.

This comes as 5 men were arrested last week before the National Route No 1 had been blocked by protesters. Security forces tried to intervene and used tear gas. Residents held a sit-in to call for the release of arrested people involved in recent violent acts.

Hamel went to Ghardaia and held a meeting with policemen’s representatives to listen to protesters’ concerns. He committed to resolve their problem and visited the wounded policemen.