20110207
reuters

ALGIERS (Reuters) - A prominent member of Algeria's ruling elite said on Monday it was time for a shake-up of the government, a rare criticism from inside the establishment and a sign that uprisings around the Arab world are increasing pressure for change.

President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, seeking to stop protests in Egypt and Tunisia spreading to his energy exporting country, promised last week to create new jobs, allow more democratic freedoms, and lift a 19-year-old state of emergency.

But that has failed to appease a coalition of civil society groups, some trade unions and small political parties who -- inspired by protests elsewhere in the Arab world -- plan to defy a ban and hold a protest march in the capital on February 12.

Zohra Drif Bitat, a vice-president of Algeria's upper house of parliament who was appointed by Bouteflika, launched a scathing attack on the government, saying it had been unable to translate huge energy wealth into a better life for ordinary people.

"Are we going to continue to tackle our problems with the same actors who have failed? Don't we need new blood?" she said on state radio.

"I hope and expect a radical change in the mode of governance," she said.

There were local media reports last week that Bouteflika was preparing to reshuffle his government, and possibly fire Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia, but this has not been confirmed by any officials.