Algeria Braces for Egypt-Inspired Rally

Algerian protesters shout slogans as they protest against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, near the Egyptian embassy in Algiers on February 9. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Riot police have been deployed in downtown Algerian capital, Algiers, ahead of a planned anti-government rally.

At least 15 police vans, SUVs and buses are lined up at May 1 Square, where the march is due to start Saturday, and about the same number is located on a nearby side-street outside the city's Mustapha hospital, BBC reports.

Small military-style armored vehicles are also parked at junctions around the city.

The government has banned the protest, but opposition and human rights groups are firm in their intentions to go ahead with the march, inspired by the Egyptian uprising.

On Friday, police stopped people from gathering to celebrate the fall of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

Demonstrations are banned in Algeria because of a state of emergency which has been in place since 1992.

Earlier this month, Algerian President, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, according to local media reports, had said the country's state of emergency would be lifted in the "very near future".

He said protests would be allowed everywhere in the country except in the capital.

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