Two dead, 20 injured in Algeria riots

Rioting was over the rising costs of food and unemployment.

ALGIERS // Two men were killed and at least another 20 people injured in riots in Algeria linked to the rising costs of food and unemployment, a newspaper and rescue services said Saturday.

Azzedine Lebza,18, was the first reported fatality in the unrest on Friday when he was hit by a bullet in Ain Lahdjel in the M'Sila region, 300 kilometres (180 miles) southeast of Algiers, according to the Arab-language daily El Khabar.

A 32-year-old demonstrator, Akriche Abdelfattah, was also killed on Friday in Bou Smail, a small town 50 kilometres west of Algiers, a medical source said.

He died after being hit in the face by a tear gas canister, medical officials said.

The reports were not immediately confirmed by the authorities.

According to El Khabar, police opened fire as they tried to evict demonstrators who had forced their way into the town's post office and a government building.

It said three of the victims' friends were also wounded.

Youths clashed with police in Algiers and several other towns across the country on Friday despite appeals for calm from imams after several days of unrest.

In Annaba, 600 kilometres west of Algiers, 17 people were injured, including three policemen, when demonstrators threw stones, according to emergency services and a policeman who asked not to be named.

The rioting, which broke out after Friday prayers in a poor neighbourhood of the city, continued late into the night. A local government office was ransacked, according to witnesses.

Protestors also cut down electricity poles during the night, cutting off power to the working class suburb of Auzas.

Amar circus equipment in Annaba was damaged by rioters but circus staff was safe after fleeing the scene, witnesses said.

About 75 per cent of Algerians are under the age of 30, and 20 percent of the youth are unemployed, according to the International Monetary Fund.