For weeks Algerian workers had staged wildcat strikes at state-owned enterprises, including Air Algerie and the Post and Telegraph Service. Last week the growing anger over high prices and unemployment exploded into the worst riots to rock the nation since it won independence from France 26 years ago. For three days gangs of youths rampaged through Algiers, attacking government buildings, supermarkets, foreign airline offices, restaurants and nightclubs. On Friday some 6,000 demonstrators chanted Islamic slogans.
President Chadli Bendjedid declared a state of emergency, imposed a curfew and called in the army to restore law-and-order. Total property damage was estimated at more...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
