Algerian troops in desert city to calm escalating violence

Algeria has decided to deploy more anti-riot troops to cope with escalating sectarian violence in the southeastern desert city of Ghardaia, local officials said on Saturday. The governor of Ghardaia province said more troops have been sent in to restore calm in the city, but he did not provide the detailed number of the backup forces. Earlier Wednesday 26 anti-riot officers and 16 citizens were injured when violence erupted again in this desert city between the Chaamba community of Arab origin and Mozabite Berbers of the Muslim Ibadi sect, the governor said. About 53 stores, 11 homes and 16 vehicles were destroyed or burned on Thursday and Friday during the escalating clashes. Violence between Mozabite and Arabs started in December last year in different parts of the city and in neighboring localities. After weeks of clashes, a shaken truce led by the government and elders of the two disputing parties was reached. A security source in Ghardaia previously said that as many as 14 police units had been deployed in the city. In all, more than 2, 000 anti-riot troops have been assigned the mission of restoring law and order. So far, more than ten people have been killed during these clashes. About one hundred stores, farms and homes were set on fire. Violence has been recurrently reported in recent years in this desert province of 200,000 inhabitants, long known for being a quiet and tourist destination region.