Police clash with protesters in Algeris

Hundreds of Algerians have defied a ban to stage protest rallies in the capital Algiers amid fears that the Tunisian example might repeat itself in the country.

The protests come days after a historic revolution in neighboring Tunisia ousted president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

Protesters were confronted by dozens of police officers armed with batons and tear gas.

The opposition, Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD), says several people were arrested and injured as police broke up the demonstrations.

“There are several injured… and numerous arrests,” said head of the RCD Said Sadi.

Earlier, authorities urged people to ignore opposition calls to join Saturday’s march for fear of Tunisia-style protests.

“Marches are not allowed in Algiers,” said the statement, carried by the official news agency APS.

“All assemblies on public roads are considered a breach of public order,” it added.

Demonstrations erupted in Algeria in early January over soaring food costs and unemployment.

Days of clashes between demonstrators and security forces left five people dead and more than 800 others wounded. Since then, the government has taken a number of measures, such as cutting the prices of staple products.

Activists say the revolution in Tunisia is an epoch-making change which threatens the existence of dictatorial regimes in the Middle East, North Africa and the Arab world.