Further Berber clashes in Algeria

There were more clashes between police and demonstrators in Algeria's ethnic Berber region on Tuesday.

For the third day in succession, youths blocked the main road to Algiers, overturning lorries, uprooting trees and vandalising safety rails.

There were no reports of serious injuries.

The latest trouble occurred in the cities of Tizi Ouzou, Tadmait and Draa Ben Kheda.

Correspondents say that the continuing clashes are posing the worst internal crisis for President Abdelaziz Bouteflika since he took power two years ago.

The trouble was sparked off by the death of a Berber youth in police custody earlier this year. The Berbers have long complained that they are discriminated against in employment and housing, and that their cultural rights are being ignored.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service