Tanks and Troops Move Into Algiers Following Clashes
Tanks and troops headed toward the Islamic stronghold of Bab el Oued in Algiers late Tuesday after a day of violent clashes between fundamentalists and security forces that were sparked by the removal of Islamic symbols from public buildings.
Hundreds of fundamentalists, eyes streaming from tear gas, battled with security forces for more than five hours in the most serious clashes since a state of siege was imposed three weeks ago.
Algerian Radio said many people were wounded Tuesday during shooting near the Bab el Oued quarter, stronghold of the leading opposition party, the Islamic Salvation Front.
Late Monday, people passing by in the night with loudspeakers called fundamentalist youths out from neighborhood mosques as police began tearing down Islamic insignia from town halls and reinstating Algeria’s official motto, “By the People, for the People.”
Sunni Muslim fundamentalists had replaced the motto at the entrance to numerous public buildings with the words “Islamic Community” after the June, 1990, victory of the Islamic Salvation Front in local elections.
Officials on Thursday ordered the return of the official motto to its place and the rehanging of pictures of President Chadli Bendjedid.
Under the state of siege imposed by Bendjedid on June 5, public gatherings and protests are banned.
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