Algeria: Protests against government, man tries to burn himself

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Algeria: Protests against government, man tries to burn himself

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A man doused himself with fuel and tried to set himself on fire in the Algerian capital on Sunday during a protest outside a government ministry to demand more jobs.

07 February,2011 07:40 am

Algerian opposition groups, inspired by uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, say they will force the government to quit, but analysts say a revolt is unlikely because officials can use revenue from energy exports to soothe most grievances. But protesters demonstrating outside the employment ministry building said the lack of jobs was a pressing issue.According to official figures, Algerias unemployment rate is around 10 percent, while joblessness among the young is more than twice that figure.