This archive report was first published on 8 July 2019.
On July 7, 2019, thousands of people took to the streets of Algiers, the capital city of Algeria, as part of ongoing protests against the ruling class.
According to Algerian police, an investigation has been opened into a video that circulated online, appearing to show protesters being beaten by security forces.
Police chief Abdelkader Kara Bouhadba ordered a probe into the footage, which was widely shared on social media, showing clashes with police forces during the protest.
The Directorate General for National Security (DGSN) stressed the need to investigate the incident to determine liability and take the measures required by law.
Scuffles broke out at the end of the Algiers rally when police officers removed the Berber flag, banned from protests, from demonstrators' hands.
Interim president Abdelkader Bensalah has called for a national dialogue to pave the way for elections, but demonstrators want top figures from the previous era to step aside before polls are held.
