Algeria riots reveal anger of a generation

By Lamine Chikhi

ALGIERS (Reuters) - To Mohamed Kherfallah, the young men in his neighbourhood who hurled rocks and petrol bombs at police in the Algerian capital this week are performing a service for their community.

Kherfallah, like his neighbours, is fed up of waiting for the government to re-house him. "It's always a nightmare here," the 66-year-old said as he stood in the tiny one-room flat he shares with 11 members of this extended family.

The Diar Echams district where he lives erupted this week into rioting over poor housing and unemployment. Police used tear gas and water cannon in failed attempts to disperse the rioters and several officers were injured.

The worst public disorder in the capital in several years, it highlighted a deep problem: the anger and frustration felt by millions of poor people in this energy producing country at a government they believe has let them down.

"The youth achieved what we could not achieve through peaceful means. They are listening to us because the youngsters made lot of noise," Kherfallah said.

The unrest is unlikely to threaten the government because opposition parties are weak and the state has a vast security apparatus to contain civil disorder.

But the frustration is growing, analysts say, widening the gulf between the government and the young, urban poor in a country that provides 20 percent of Europe's gas imports and is still emerging from a conflict with Islamist militants.

"Unrest is now routine in Algeria," said Nacer Jabi, a sociologist who teaches at Algiers University. "It is becoming a national sport simply because people see no improvement in their daily living conditions."