Up to 5,000 people set fire to public buildings and blocked roads with burning tires in the town of Birina, in the Jilfa region of Algeria on Monday, in response to a rise in the price of butane gas, but also the lack of water and electricity. Both the town and regional government buildings were burned down, along with the tax collection office. Butane gas and fuel oil are the only available sources of energy in Algeria's remote mountain regions and high plateaus.
Algerians riot over fuel prices
Tue, Jan 18, 2005
Up to 5,000 people set fire to public buildings and blocked roads with burning tires in the town of Birina, in the Jilfa region of Algeria on Monday, in response to a rise in the price of butane gas, but also the lack of water and electricity. Both the town and regional government buildings were burned down, along with the tax collection office. Butane gas and fuel oil are the only available sources of energy in Algeria's remote mountain regions and high plateaus.
Riot police weren't able to control the crowds until officers from outside the community were brought in. Tear gas was used, and 33 people were arrested. 10 police were injured, three seriously. Almost all local politicians fled the town during the uprising, except for the mayor and regional governor who had to take refuge inside a police station.
Meanwhile in the country's northeast, angry demonstrators in the town of Khirrata reportedly blockaded the region's main road.
The police murder of an indigenous Berber youth caused bloody unrest across Algeria in 2001, during which police killed 100 people and left many more injured.
Algerians burn city hall over housing shortage:
http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=04/12/21/8009887
Algerian Youth Riot Over Housing Concerns:
http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=04/12/13/5889758
After ballot box, Algerians reserve rioting as form of public expression:
http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=04/04/05/7875255
Insurrection continues in Algeria:
http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=04/03/31/8808125
Background on the Algerian insurrection:
http://www.geocities.com/kk_abacus/ht/algeria.html
http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050118132543276