Algerian president makes Arabic official language

Algerian President Liamine Zeroual today in the ministers council approved a law that specifies the use of the Arabic language.

This comes after discussions with the ministers, who were led by Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia last Wednesday. There will also be 10 people chosen from different ministerial departments and educational institutions to add to a list of 15 - 20 members that will be assigned to the Higher Council for the Arabic Language.

There is opposition internally and externally to prevent the implementation of the law from some of the supporters of Berber singer Lounes Matoub and the Socialist Front forces with the leadership of Hussein Ayt Ahmad in the form of a demonstration on July 5, on the occasion of Algeria's 36th Independence Day, at which time the law is supposed to take effect.

Riots have continued in Algeria after Matoub's death. The Algerian city Bejayah, the second largest Qabaeil city after Tizi Ozo in Algiers on Saturday night witnessed acts of violence during which demonstrators pelted state-owned buildings with stones.

In Sedi Eish city, 30 km from the capital Algiers, one person was killed by gunfire from Algerian security forces when demonstrators set fire to the justice court headquarters, the telephone exchange center and a central bank branch.

It has been noted that there is disagreement between the military and the presidential office toward the new language law.