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Algerian PM visits strife-ridden Ghardaia province

Xinhua, July 9, 2015 Adjust font size:

Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal on Thursday visited the rift ridden province of Ghardaia, 600 km in south of Algiers, as 22 people were killed in ethnic clashes during the last five days, APS news agency reported.

The visit came after an urgent meeting held on Wednesday by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, with top government and military officials, as he ordered army to take control of Ghardaia in a bid to restore order there.

Deadly ethnic clashes erupted earlier this week in the localities of Guerrara and Berriane in Ghardaia province, leaving at least 22 people dead, hundreds others injured.

The province of Ghardaia has been hit, since December 2013, by a series of violent ethnic clashes between the Chaamba community, of Arab origin, and Mozabite Berbers of the Muslim Ibadi sect.

A shaky calm was restored in January 2015 after the two sides reached a truce initiated by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Endit