Algeria on high alert in lead up to “17 September” protests

The Algerian government is preparing for protests that have been called for September 17. Activists have sent out invitations via Facebook lately, calling for the end to the regime. Leaflets and brochures have also been circulated in neighbourhoods throughout the country. Algeria is one of the few regimes in the region which hasn’t been destabilised by the Arab Spring. The Algerian government has held crisis talks while security forces have carried out sweeps across the country to find the persons responsible for inciting the protest. Algeria’s Minister of Interior, Daho Ould Kabila, today accused foreign actors and Zionists of trying to spread chaos in Algeria.  “Zionist parties are seeking to implement a plan in Algeria” “If these groups were domestic, we would have been able to prevent them from causing chaos, however, all signs indicate that they are foreign groups linked to Zionists.” “Further evidence of this is the day chosen for the protest, which falls on the anniversaries of the Camp David agreement and the Sabra and Shatilla massacre.” The Minister said that the Algerian people are overwhelmingly disinterested in the protests, which he considers further evidence that it is a foreign plot. “We have concluded that the protests have no resonance within the population and will not take place on a large scale.” “Authorities have surveyed Algerians on the internet and through social networking sites, confirming the overwhelming lack of response to the invitations to protest.” “On the contrary in fact, Algerian groups oppose the protest and are calling for sobriety, wisdom, and prudence in dealing with such foreign campaigns.” General Abdel Ghani Hamel, the General Manager of Algeria’s Police, urged the Algerian security forces to prepare for Saturday’s protests.