Algeria’s powerful army chief Ahmed Gaid Salah appears to have had enough of the now seven-month strong protest movement. Security forces blocked main roads leading into the capital Algiers on 20 September in an attempt to prevent people from protesting for a 31st straight Friday. Many prominent opposition activists have also been arrested in recent weeks as the army steps up its crackdown (MEES, 13 September).
The protesters which have so far managed to force long-time president Abdelaziz Bouteflika out of power want to bring about an entirely new political system in Algeria – something the country’s powerful military is against. (CONTINUED - 142 WORDS)