As thousands of Algerians walked the cities of the country for the 18th week of the popular movement, the headquarters of an Amazigh-oriented party was subjected to a security siege in the capital to prevent its supporters from carrying to the streets Berber flags that irk Algerian army chief General Ahmed Gaid Salah.
The streets of the capital witnessed on Friday a short-lived operation between riot police and demonstrators holding Berber flags, which symbolize a cultural peculiarity that has caused a great divide among Algerians.
Security officers in civilian uniform subjected hundreds of protesters to public searches for the controversial banner, which in recent days overshadowed the main issue of the movement - the departure of interim President Abdelkader Ben Saleh and Prime Minister Noureddine Badawi.
According to observers, the movement of Friday passed the toughest test since its start on Feb. 22 in which a confrontation was expected between the security forces and protesters on the base of strict instructions given by Salah to the security forces.
These instructions called for arresting any person who holds the Berber flag. But after Friday prayer, the security forces became aware that using force against holders of these flags would bring unfavorable results.
Further, the Algerian TV announced Friday arresting businessman Global Group Director Hassan Arbaoui who was put on Thursday in temporary custody for a corruption case. The television added that Arbaoui was arrested along with six others.
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