News / Middle East

Algeria Approves Order to End State of Emergency

Algerian students scuffle with riot police officers near the Ministry of Higher Education in Algiers, February 21, 2011
Algerian students scuffle with riot police officers near the Ministry of Higher Education in Algiers, February 21, 2011
TEXT SIZE - +

Algeria's Cabinet formally approved an order Tuesday to lift the country's 19-year-old state of emergency.

The Cabinet said the order will take effect after its "imminent" publication in the official gazette.  It is unclear exactly when this will take place.

Earlier this month, Algeria's Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci said the government planned to lift the emergency rules soon.  It was one of the changes promised by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in the aftermath of weeks of anti-government protests.

Algerians have been demonstrating over high unemployment and food prices in protests similar to those that led to the recent ouster of the leaders of Tunisia and Egypt.

Algeria's military-backed government first imposed the state of emergency on February 9, 1992, the date marked as the start of the country's civil war.

It gave the military broad police powers to crack down on Islamist militants who gained support after an Islamic political party was prevented from winning elections a few months earlier.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

 

NEW: Follow our Middle East reports on Twitter
and discuss them on our Facebook page.

You May Like

Doctors Without Borders Shuts Clinic in Northern Nigeria

Decision comes after five gunmen hijacked an aid vehicle on Saturday More

Experts Weigh In on Challenges of Closing Guantanamo Prison

Former chief military prosecutor at Guantanamo delivers petition to White House with more than 370,000 signatures, demanding facility be closed down immediately More

Karzai to Discuss Enhancing Defense Ties with India

Afghanistan looking for more military aid as it prepares for withdrawal of NATO forces by next year More

Burmese President Opens US Visit with VOA Town Hall Meeting

Ahead of his meeting with President Obama Monday, Thein Sein answered questions on human rights and economic development in his country More

This forum has been closed.
Comments
     
There are no comments in this forum. Be first and add one

Featured Videos

Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.
Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.
Video

Video US Oil Surge Could Impact Mideast Geopolitics

The United States will account for a third of new oil supplies over the next five years, and will become energy self-sufficient in 20 years, according to a new report by the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA). Although U.S. oil imports from Arab Gulf countries increased last year, analysts predict the U.S. will lose its dependence on Middle East imports, which is expected to have a huge impact on international relations and the balance of power. VOA's Henry Ridgewell reports.