Algeria: 11 million poor citizens; ministerial reshuffle

Algeria on Thursday announced that there are 11 million poor Algerians in the country and the government estimated the number of "missing" since the eruption of the acts of violence in 1992 at 5,000 persons.

Well-informed sources said that the ministerial reshuffle which the Algerian President Abdul Aziz Butaflika is expected to make will target 10 ministers including the minister of the Interior Yazid Zarhouni, besides the minister of the information Muhe eddine Omeimour, who will be replaced by the younger brother of the Algerian President al-Saeed Butaflika.

The Algerian minister of labor and social protection Abu Jerra Sultani said before a national forum for health at al-Bleida province that 1.9 million Algerian families are under the poverty line which means that 11 million Algerians are poor.

On the other hand, some 10,000 persons with the majority of them are Berber from al-Qabayel area held a " calm" demonstration in the capital Algiers, to condemn the bloody oppressive acts of the acts of violence took place in al-Qabayel area to demand recognition of the Berber language.

Among the chanted slogans were " the authority is a killer", "no forgiveness" and the " real terrorists are the police men," " correct history, Algeria is not an Arab country," " the Berber language is at schools."

On the other hand, two Algerian dailies said that the second official of the dissolved "Islamic front for salvation" Ali Balhah who has been in jail since 1991 is very ill and is facing death, and this information was quoted from his brother Abdul Hameed.

The Algerian daily Sawt al- Ahrar ( voice of the liberals ) said that Ali Balhah is suffering heart problems, speaks hardly and his morale are deteriorating.