Quake angers thousands

last updated 8 January 2015

Algiers, Algeria

Survivors of the massive earthquake that killed more than 2,000 people in Algeria last week are furious at the government. Tens of thousands of the newly homeless took to the streets of the capital, Algiers, to protest what they said was a slow response to the catastrophe. Many also blamed the collapse of their houses on the government’s failure to enforce construction regulations. Protesters greeted the arrival of Interior Minister Yazid Noureddine Zerhouni, who was touring the hardest-hit areas, with chants of “Police state, dictatorship!” and “Leave, we don’t need you!” Rather than pledging swift aid, Zerhouni snapped that ungrateful protesters could expect no help from the government. He then had to flee a hail of rocks hurled his way.