News from Algeria 2008

[Al-khiyal]

Tébessa :
Des dégâts importants dans plusieurs localités suite aux intempéries

Lundi 29 Septembre 2008 -- Les dernières chutes de pluie ont provoqué des dégâts importants dans plusieurs localités de la wilaya de Tébessa, a indiqué la Protection civile. Deux ouvrages d’art dans la localité de Aïn Zerga, à 60 km au nord-est du chef-lieu de wilaya se sont effondrés et plusieurs maisons, dans la même localité, ont été inondées suite à ces précipitations. Une vingtaine d’ovins ont été emportés par les crues. Dans la localité d’El Kouif, plusieurs toitures d’anciennes bâtisses se sont effondrées causant de légères blessures aux propriétaires alors qu’au chef-lieu de wilaya, les chutes de pluie ont provoqué l’affaissement, à plusieurs endroits, du réseau routier.

[Al-khiyal]

Nicolas Sarkozy's son Jean cleared of traffic offence

September 29, 2008 -- Jean Sarkozy, the 22-year-old son of the French president and a rising political star, was cleared of causing a minor traffic accident in a case that had threatened to snowball into an affair of state. Nicolas Sarkozy's second of three sons, whose perfect smile and blond locks have been splashed across billboards ever since he entered politics earlier this year, was not present in court to hear the verdict.

"Sarkozy Junior" - who married a wealthy electronic goods heiress earlier this month - was cleared of ramming his scooter into a BMW and zooming off while making obscene finger gestures off the Place de la Concorde in 2005, when he was 19.

The plaintiff, M'Hamed Bellouti, 37, said he had noted down the scooter's number plate on his mobile phone but had no clue who the helmet-clad driver was at the time, other than that he was "young" and "beardless".

Massive interest in the case led Le Figaro to describe it as the "highest-profile bumper scratch in French judicial history".

Mr Bellouti, the son of an Algerian immigrant, had asked for the 236 euros he spent on repairing his bumper plus a further 4,000 euros in damages.

Instead, his case was thrown out of court and he was ordered to pay 2,000 euros for "abusive procedure".

"Justice did what it had to do. This was an empty dossier in which we provided proof that it was impossible for the illegal incident to have occurred," said Thierry Herzog, lawyer for the Sarkozy family. He was referring to tests showing that the front wheel of the scooter was too low to scratch the BMW's rear bumper.

Mr Bellouti, a former law student with part-time employment, left the courtroom in angry disbelief: "This republic has all the hallmarks of a monarchy. I had doubts before now; they are now confirmed," he told The Daily Telegraph.

"I knew that justice was unequal, but to condemn me for abusive procedure when there was proof and a witness is surreal in a country like France," he said.

"What do they think? That I plotted to catch Jean Sarkozy, that I followed him around to get his number plate, all for this?" said Mr Bellouti, who took the case to court out of frustration.

He had reported the incident to the police. Ten months later, after they failed to "trace" the scooter, his insurance company did so instantly. However, despite receiving five recorded delivery letters, the owner, Jean Sarkozy, never replied.

The young politician - who became head of his father's UMP party in his former power base in the Hauts-de-Seine département west of Paris in June - asserted in court that he had "at no time been involved in a traffic accident".

The case has raised accusations of a two-speed justice system. While police failed to follow up on Mr Bellouti's complaint, they were incredibly efficient in tracking down the young Jean's scooter when he reported it stolen last year - even going to the extraordinary length of taking a DNA sample from his helmet.

The thieves were arrested on a high-immigrant housing estate 10 days after the investigation began.

Mr Bellouti asked: "Why is there a two-speed justice system? When they steal his scooter, they are full of zeal. When it hits my car, there is less zeal."

Outside court he said he had been turned down by three lawyers before finding someone to take on his case, with each telling him he stood "no chance" of beating the President's son.

"It turns out they were right," he said.

[Al-khiyal]

La fête de l’Aïd El Fitr fixée au mercredi 1er octobre en Algérie et en France

Lundi 29 septembre 2008 -- En Algérie, la fête de l’Aïd El Fitr a été fixée au mercredi 1er octobre, a annoncé ce soir le ministère des Affaires religieuses. En France, le Conseil français du culte musulman (CFCM), via un communiqué, a annoncé pour sa part que la date de l'Aïd El Fitr a également été fixée au mercredi 1er octobre 2008. A cette occasion TSA (toutsurlalgerie.com) présente ses meilleurs voeux à tous ses lecteurs musulmans. Aïd Moubarak.

[Al-khiyal]

Trois personnes meurent successivement asphyxiées au fond d'un puits

Lundi 29 septembre 2008 -- Trois personnes sont mortes, successivement asphyxiées au fond d'un puits dimanche soir, à Constantine, a annoncé lundi l'agence APS citant les services de la Protection civile. Un premier homme, âgé de 23 ans, a été victime des gaz émis par une motopompe dont il voulait se servir au fond du puits pour le vider. Le propriétaire de l'engin, un homme de 33 ans, a voulu lui porter secours mais a également succombé, asphyxié. Enfin, un voisin est mort de la même manière en voulant porter secours aux deux victimes.

[Al-khiyal]

Deux terroristes abattus à Jijel

[Al-khiyal]

Deux morts et six blessés dans des intempéries à Djelfa

Mardi 30 septembre 2008 -- Deux personnes dont un enfant de six ans sont mortes et six blessées dans des intempéries qui ont frappé la région de Djelfa, ont annoncé mardi les autorités locales citées par l'APS. Djelfa, comme de nombreuses autres villes du nord du pays, a enregistré de fortes pluies qui ont grossi les oueds au cours des deux derniers jours. Un homme n'a pu sortir de son véhicule emporté par les flots de l'Oued El Baz, à une centaine de km de Djelfa tandis que le corps d'un enfant de six ans a été repêché après neuf heures de recherches dans les eaux d'un autre oued en crue. Les services de la protection civile locale ont pu sauver six personnes en difficulté qui ont été hospitalisées.

[Al-khiyal]

Mauritania's High Court names president

September 30, 2008 -- Mauritania's High Court of Justice named Nouakchott lawyer Sidi Mohamed Ould Maham as its first president on Monday (September 29th), Journal Tahalil reported. Retired colonel Diop Abdoulaye Dembawas was elected vice president. The court, formed by the ruling military junta, may adjudicate cases against former government officials.