Moslem Demonstrations Continuing In Algiers

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29388, 15 December 1960, Page 17

Moslem Demonstrations Continuing In Algiers

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) ALGIERS, December 14. Riot police rushed to the Arab quarter in Algiers early today as Moslems roamed the streets chanting for a Moslem Algeria. Women on the rooftops screamed the calls with which they urged on their menfolk in the demonstrations of the last two days.

Men waved, Algerian insurgent flags as they paraded up .and down the 'streets long after midnight, apparently determined to keep it up all night. Police were stationed at the exits of the Casbah to prevent any spread of the disturbance' to the European quarter. Officials said last night that the Government was planning the dissolution of the French Algeria Front (F.A.F.I which organised ‘the “Algerie Francaise” demonstrations and strikes during the visit of General de Gaulle to Algeria The unofficial deathroll last night stood at 123 since General de Gaulle began his visit last Friday, including 96 in Algiers.

General de Gaulle flew back to Paris yesterday determined to go ahead with the January 8 referendum on his plans for an “Algerian Algeria.” The general is reported to be bent ou severe punishment for those responsible for both European and Moslem rioting, and local authorities have opened an inquiry to find the leaders of the demonstrations.

Officials said 216 persons had been arrested in Algiers and 104 confined, to their homes. Others were reported arrested in Oran. So far as was known early today, there was no mass attempt by the Moslems to leave the Casbah during the night. Military sources said that yesterday they had arrested Alger-

ian National Liberation Front executives who had reached the Casbah from the mountain regions to take over the control of demonstrations there.

Several shots were heard during the night and early this morning from inside the Casbah. There was no information about who fired them or whether there were casualties, but a French news agency report quoted “authoritative sources” as saying there were several victims.

Yesterday, the Foreign Legion opened fire with machine-guns against Europeans and Moslems during General de Gaulle’s visit to Bone. It was the first time in the present disorders that French forces have fired on Europeans. Two of the dead were Europeans American Associated Press said. Among the

Moslem dead were three women and two children.

Details of the fighting at Bone were sketchy. Military sources said the legion paratroops intervened to stop violent disorders between rival groups of Europeans and Moslems. The Europeans were shouting for "French Algeria,” and the Moslems for “Moslem Algeria.” On his return to Paris last night, General de Gaulle told a group of Ministers: “I am very touched by your welcome, because you are numerous. We have only one policy and it is necessary to follow it. It is a good one.”

Then he quickly turned and drove from the airport behind a motor-cycle escort. Along the road into the city, police stood guard every 50 yards.