Protesters in Montreal call for change in Algeria



MONTREAL- Some 200 people demonstrated Saturday in the streets of Montreal, joining calls for the resignation of Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on the heels of revolts in Tunisia and Egypt.
"We want an end to the dictator Bouteflika and his regime, replaced by democracy," said Zehira Houfani, a writer and independent journalist.



Protesters included Tunisians and Egyptians in a march that ended in front of the Algerian consulate. The chanted "No corruption, no submission" and carried signs that read "Abuse + corruption = revolution."
The march was to coincide with a demonstration in the Algerian capital on Saturday, when 2,000 demonstrators evaded police to rally in a central Algiers square.
"We have had rallies before but this time it is all of the people calling for democracy like we have seen in Egypt and Tunisia," Houfani said.
Houfani, a 59-year-old Algerian who came to Canada 15 years ago, formally submitted his group's demand for Bouteflika's resignation to the Algerian consul a few days ago.
"We're going to follow what happens in Algeria. They (protesters in Algeria) are motivated and we want to support them to the end," he said.
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Sunday, February 13th 2011
AFP
           


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