Algeria says end to state of emergency "imminent"

Algeria's goverment announced Tuesday evening the drafting of a law that will lift of the country's State of Emergency after nineteen years, along with measures to improve the economy, employment and housing. The same evening, a coalition of groups opposed to the law faced new divisions.

Reuters/Zohra Bensemra

The state of emergency is to be lifted by a law that "will enter into effect imminently, upon its publication in the official journal", according to an official statement.

Ending the state of emergency is one of the demands of the National Coordination for Change and Democracy (CNCD), a coalition of opposition groups staging weekly protests designed to emulate uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia.

"Lifting the state of emergency is positive, but it's not enough," said Mustafa Bouchachi, chairperson of the Algerian Human Rights League and one of the organisers of the protests.

But the CNCD, created on 21 January 2011, became divided over priortites during a five-hour meeting on Tuesday evening, with political parties on one side, and unions and the Algerian Human Rights League on the other.

The state of emergency gives free rein to security forces that effectively serve to repress political freedom.

Bouteflika pledged three weeks ago to lift martial law amid protests that left five dead and more than 800 injured.

The United States State Department hailed the move to lift the emergency law, but said it must be accompanied by greater political freedom.

"The Algerian cabinet's decision to lift the state of emergency is positive, but must be translated into expanded freedoms and real change," spokesperson Philip Crowley said.

On Tuesday, the government also announced measures to stimulate the economy the economy and reduce the unemployment rate.

Algeria's unemployment rate hovers around 10 per cent, but is closer to 21 per cent among young people.