20110217
Xinhua
ALGIERS, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia on Wednesday announced that the state of emergency that has existed for 19 years will be lifted before the end of February.

Addressing the three-party alliance which compose the government, Ouyahia said "the state of emergency will be lifted before the end of the current February," adding "several other measures relating to housing, employment and public service management, are to be announced too."

The three-party alliance has expressed indignation towards foreign interference in the internal affairs of Algeria in particular, and the Arab region in general, amid anti-regime protests that sparked in the region, in reference to revolts of Tunisia and Egypt.

The prime minister specified that Algeria had witnessed protests conducted by "sons of Algeria," stressing that "no body can turn the back on the people's claims, no matter how they are being expressed."

He further mentioned that the events taking place in some Arab countries "are having impact on Algeria." In this regard, Ouyahia has called on the National Co-ordination for Change and Democracy, which has scheduled a protest march next Saturday in Algiers, to claim political reforms, "to respect the law of the country and avoid committing sleeps which would lead to chaos."

Everybody has the right to practice opposition, but within an organized frame, he added.