region:southern algeria

Is a Late ‘Arab Spring’ Knocking on #Algeria’s Doors from the Desert?
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/23279

http://english.al-akhbar.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/4cols/leading_images/753296-01-02-e1367172899191.jpg

The sands of the desert in southern Algeria are moving to the beat of popular protests, and the ruling party has warned that the protests might evolve into an “Arab Spring.” Fears have particularly heightened after the dismantling of a terrorist cell of 12 members in sensitive areas in the south of the country. According to the #Algerian_army, the cell was planning attacks on #Oil sites in collaboration with foreign parties.

#Articles #FLN #Jil_Jadid #National_Liberation_Front #shale_gas #Soufiane_Djilali #South_Algeria #Mideast_&_North_Africa

One dead in #Algeria tribal clashes
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/one-dead-algeria-tribal-clashes

Weeks of heightened tensions between rival communities in the town of #Ghardaia in southern Algeria have erupted into violence, leaving one person dead and others hurt, officials said Monday. Schools and shops were shut after a group of youths went on the rampage on Sunday, attacking five different neighborhoods, and after a 39-year-old man was stabbed in the chest at his home. Another 10 people were wounded in the desert town 600 kilometers (400 miles) south of Algiers, among them three policemen, Interior Minister Tayeb Belaiz said, cited by Algerian media. read more

#Chaamba #Mozabites #Top_News

Drone base in Niger gives U.S. a strategic foothold in West Africa - The Washington Post
▻http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/drone-base-in-niger-gives-us-a-strategic-foothold-in-west-africa/2013/03/21/700ee8d0-9170-11e2-9c4d-798c073d7ec8_story_1.html

Two U.S. defense officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal planning, said the Pentagon ultimately wants to move the Predators to the Saharan city of Agadez, in northern Niger.

Agadez is closer to parts of southern Algeria and southern Libya where fighters and arms traffickers allied with al-Qaeda have taken refuge.

The Africa Command did not respond to questions about how many U.S. troops are in Niger, but one U.S. official said the number of Air Force personnel had increased beyond the 100 troops Obama said last month he had deployed.

#drones #niger #afrique #africom