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WORLD NEWS Saturday 2 March 2019

Algerians march en masse against 5th term for sick president

By AOMAR OUALI women in headscarves or the heart of the Algiers pro-
Associated Press jeans. Riot police lined key test, while Algerian media
ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — avenues, determined to and organizers reported
Masses of Algerians surged keep marchers from near- several hundred thousand
through the capital and ing government buildings. at protests nationwide,
rallied in other cities Friday Bursts of tear gas fire punc- calling it the biggest such
against ailing President Ab- tuated the afternoon, start- action in more than a de-
delaziz Bouteflika's bid for a ing soon after crowds start- cade.
fifth term, in an exceptional ed gathering. More and As the Algiers protest
popular challenge to the more demonstrators joined wound down, groups
country's secretive leader- in as the group marched of young demonstrators
ship. along a route parallel to cleared away bottles and
Protesters surged past a the city's Mediterranean other garbage left along
barricade and defied re- Protesters demonstrate in the streets of Algiers, Algeria, to de- shore. the protest route, heeding
peated volleys of tear gas nounce President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's bid for a fifth term, Fri- Police stopped the crowd a call by organizers to stay
fired by police in the march day, March 1, 2019. near the central post of- peaceful and respectful.
in Algiers. Most marchers Associated Press fice, and the protesters' It's the latest of several pro-
were peaceful but a small chants briefly fell silent as tests in recent days against
group throwing stones largely hidden from public. discontent to Algeria's se- they joined together to sing Bouteflika's candidacy for
clashed at the end of the Police helicopters circled cretive leadership before the Algerian national an- the April 18 election. The
event with police, causing overhead as crowds gath- the April 18 presidential them. protests have been largely
some injuries. ered in streets and parks of election. Then the crowd over- organized by a movement
Such anti-government pro- Algiers after midday Muslim "For a free and democrat- whelmed a police barri- called Mouwatana, or citi-
tests are unusual in Algeria, prayer services to join the ic Algeria!" shouted some cade, pushing on toward zenship, that gathers vari-
where questions are grow- march. Organizers of the demonstrators, or "No fifth Martyrs' Square in the histor- ous opposition parties and
ing about Bouteflika's fit- social media-driven move- term!" ic Casbah neighborhood. activists and wants Boute-
ness for office after a 2013 ment hope the protest will The crowd included fami- Associated Press reporters flika to renounce his deci-
stroke that has left him send a loud signal of public lies with small children and saw tens of thousands at sion to seek a new term.q

Chemical weapons watchdog says chlorine was used in Douma

By MIKE CORDER Douma, analyzed samples responsibility.
Associated Press taken from the scene and Douma was the final tar-
THE HAGUE, Netherlands from people affected, in- get of the government's
(AP) — The global chemical terviewed witnesses and sweeping campaign to
weapons watchdog said studied toxicological and seize back control of the
Friday it found "reasonable ballistics analyses. eastern Ghouta suburbs
grounds" that chlorine was The data, it said, provided of Damascus from rebels
used as a weapon in an at- "reasonable grounds that after seven years of revolt.
tack on the Syrian town of the use of a toxic chemical Militants gave up the town
Douma last year. as a weapon" took place. days after the alleged at-
The finding was contained "This toxic chemical con- tack.
in a detailed report by the tained reactive chlorine. The OPCW said the report
Organization for the Prohi- The toxic chemical was has been sent to the United
bition of Chemical Weap- likely molecular chlorine." Nations Security Council.
ons' fact finding mission The Fact Finding Mission's Russia, a staunch ally of Syr-
that investigated the at- mandate does not include ian President Bashar Assad,
tack on April 7, 2018. Medi- laying blame for the attack. also rejected claims that
cal workers said at the time The United States, Britain Syria was responsible for the
that the attack killed more and France blamed Syrian attack and even brought In this Monday, April 16, 2018 file photo, people stand in front
than 40 people. government forces for the what it called witnesses to of damaged buildings, in the town of Douma, the site of a sus-
In a statement, the OPCW attack and launched puni- The Hague to describe their pected chemical weapons attack, near Damascus, Syria.
said the mission visited tive airstrikes. Syria denied experiences.q Associated Press