Hundreds of people are holding a pro-democracy rally in Algeria's capital Algiers, defying a government ban.
Scuffles broke out between the protesters and riot police and a number of people were reportedly arrested.
Algeria - like Egypt, Tunisia and other countries in the region - has recently witnessed demonstrations for greater freedoms and better living standards.
Public demonstrations are banned in Algeria because of a state of emergency still in place since 1992.
Heavy police presence
About 200 protesters gathered at Algiers' 1 May Square on Saturday morning.
They chanted "Bouteflika out!" - in reference to the country's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12438015
Note: 12 February 2011 Last updated at 11:36 GMT