Algeria's Saifi ready for Senegal match

2008-08-28 Algerian international midfielder Rafik Saifi of French club FC Lorient confirmed to Planète Sport Wednesday (August 27th) that he will play in the African/World Cup qualifier match against Senegal September 5th in Blida. Saifi was injured August 19th during Algeria's friendly match against UAE.

Algeria to lift ovine meat import ban

2008-08-28 Algeria's suspension of ovine meat imports begun last May will be lifted September 1st, El Moudjahid reported on Wednesday (August 27th). Algerian Trade Minister El Hachemi Djaaboub said the decision to suspend imports was initially taken by the government to protect local sheep farmers.

Algeria to begin Hajj pilgrimage registration

2008-08-28 Preliminary registration for the 2008 Hadj will begin online September 1st, APS quoted Touring Club Algeria (TCA) chief Abderahmane Abdedaim as saying Wednesday (August 27th). This is the 28th year that the TCA has been in charge of transport for Algeria's Hajj pilgrims.

Female terrorist killed in Algeria

2008-08-28 A woman was among three terrorists killed during a gunfight with Algerian troops Wednesday (August 27th) in the Makhchan forest area of Lakhdaria (80 km east of Algiers), Echorouk reported. Security forces reportedly offered no additional details.

Algerian football legends, reporters to play match

2008-08-27 Mouloudia d'Alger 1960's football great Lounès Zaouaoui will be honoured by a jubilee Thursday (August 28th) at Aïn-Zeboudja stadium, El Watan reported. The event includes a match between MC Alger and USM Alger players from the sixties and another match between the Algeria team from the 1990 African Championships and a team of national reporters.

Algerian terror victims' advocate to attend UN symposium

2008-08-27 Algeria's National Organisation of the Victims of Terrorism (ONVT) head Fatma-Zohra Flici was invited to attend a symposium organised by the UN Secretariat General on September 9th in New York, El Watan reported on Wednesday (August 27th). The September 9th event will focus on the global anti-terrorist strategy of the UN.

Algeria to replace shanty towns with new housing by 2009

2008-08-27 The Algerian government has decided to eradicate the shanty towns in the country's main cities, including Algiers, Oran and Constantine, starting after the holy month of Ramadan, Echourouk reported on Wednesday (August 27th). A total of 164,000 new housing units are expected to be built by the end of 2009.

Algerian government boosts food subsidies

2008-08-27 Algeria has allocated $2.5 billion for food subsidies in 2008, APS reported on Monday (August 25th). Algerian Trade Minister Hachemi Djaâboub said the State also decided to remove the value-added tax (VAT) of 17% on poultry products, which should reduce the price of the white meat.

Algeria's 2009 budget includes no new taxes

2008-08-27 Algeria's 2009 draft budget includes no new taxes, APS quoted Communication Minister and Government Spokesman Abderrachid Boukerzaza as saying Monday (August 25th). He added that the draft finance bill for 2009 aims at simplifying the tax system and strengthening measures against fiscal fraud. Elsewhere, however, Echorouk reported that the finance law for 2009 does not provide for any salary increase for public civil servants.

Terrorists killed in Algeria by own bomb

2008-08-27 After several days of calm following the recent wave of terrorist attacks in Algeria, three terrorists died early Wednesday (August 27th) morning in Naciria, Boumerdes, when a roadside bomb they were attempting to plant exploded prematurely, Echorouk reported. Two other roadside bombs in Boumerdes exploded in Souk Lhad without causing any casualties.

In a separate incident, a bomb exploded at a water pumping station in Si Mustapha, near Boumerdès, early Tuesday morning (August 27th), injuring a utility worker, local and international press reported. A second bomb was discovered and successfully dismantled near the same water station.

Algerian security forces also dismantled two bombs in the same region: one in Dellys, 30 kilometres from Boumerdès, and another on the highway between Dellys and Tigzirt. A local security source reportedly suggested to Tout sur l'Algerie that the bombs were an attempt to avenge three terrorists killed by security forces in Taourga, near Dellys.