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Algeria's President Set to Announce Reforms

   VOA News  April 15, 2011
   Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika (file photo)

Photo: AP

   Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika (file photo)

   Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika is expected to announce a
   series of reforms in a national address Friday evening, an apparent bid
   to ease opposition discontent.
   The state-run APS news agency says Bouteflika will announce decisions
   for "strengthening the democratic process," reducing "disparities" and
   speeding up socio-ecoomic development.
   Over the past few months, Algerians have been demonstrating for
   increased democracy. In a concession to the opposition, President
   Bouteflika lifted a 19-year-old state of emergency in February.
   On Tuesday, thousands of protesters, mostly students, marched toward
   the presidential palace in Algiers. News reports say some demanded the
   resignation of the education minister Rashid Hawarbia while others
   chanted anti-government slogans.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.
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