Algeria begins month-long celebration of children

2009-11-19 The "Month of the Algerian Child" got under way across the entire national territory on Thursday (November 19th), APS reported. The initiative includes cultural activities and open forums on promoting children's rights. An awareness campaign will also be launched in mosques to highlight the attention given by Islam to the child. The event will run until December 19th.

Algerian nuclear physicist accused of plotting terror attacks in France

2009-11-18 A French-Algerian nuclear physicist arrested on terror-related charges in Paris last month allegedly contacted North African terrorists to discuss possible attacks on French military targets, international press quoted French prosecutors as saying on Tuesday (November 17th). Adlene Hicheur, 32, who worked on the Hadron collider project at CERN (European Organisation for Nuclear Research) near Geneva, was arrested after intelligence services reportedly intercepted internet messages to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb members.

Chamakh, Ziani nominated for top African footballer award

2009-11-17 Algerian Karim Ziani of Wolfsburg and Moroccan Marouane Chamakh of Bordeaux are among ten nominees for an annual best African football player award, MAP reported on Monday (November 16th). The winner of Moroccan sports newspaper al-Mountakhab's annual "Lion d'Or" prize will be chosen by international sports journalists, African football experts and internet voting.

Greens feel good in Sudan, Saifi says

2009-11-17 The Algerian national football team feel at home in Sudan and are optimistic about the upcoming tie-breaker match with Egypt, Tout sur l'Algerie quoted Rafik Saïfi as saying in an interview for French radio channel RMC on Monday (November 16th). Speaking about the violent incidents which accompanied the match in Cairo, Saifi said that a game on neutral ground will be completely different. In Sudan on Wednesday, he added, Les Fennecs will be able to show their true abilities and give happiness to Algerian fans.

Free tickets for the match at El Merrikh stadium will be available to Greens' supporters on Tuesday. In Khartoum, meanwhile, the atmosphere is already festive, with many locals observed singing ''One, Two, Three, Viva l’Algerie", APS reported.

In related news, Mouloudia's Mohamed Amine Zemmamouche joined the Algerian squad as a substitute goalkeeper in Khartoum.

Algeria junior girls win world karate title

2009-11-16 Algeria beat Egypt and Germany to snatch the junior girls' team title on Sunday (November 15th) in Rabat at the 6th World Junior and Cadet Karate Championships, MAP reported.

Tunisia, Algeria swap handball friendly wins

2009-11-16 Tunisia defeated Algeria 29-24 in a friendly handball match on Sunday (November 15th), TAP reported. The first friendly clash in Sfax ended in a 29-21 win for Algeria on Saturday. The week-end games were part of both teams' preparations for CAN 2010 in Egypt.

Algerian woman wins Tunis City marathon

2009-11-16 Algerian runner Rabiaa Khaled won the International COMAR Marathon of the City of Tunis on Sunday (November 15th). Khaled clocked 3:10.42 to beat Tunisians Mahbouba Belgacem and Anes Raddaoui. Kenyan Vincent Kipchirchir won the men's race, while Tunisian Amor Rached finished third. Lakhdar Hachani of Tunisia and Algerian Jamia Jakkak of Algeria won the men's and women's half-marathons.

Algerians arrive in Khartoum; Sudanese clubs shows support for Greens

2009-11-16 Algeria's national team arrived in Sudan on Sunday (November 15th) for the upcoming tie-breaker match with Egypt, APS reported. Egypt's 2-0 home win over the Greens on Saturday put the Group C rivals on level pegging, prompting the playoff in a neutral nation. The winner of the Wednesday match at El Merikh Stadium in Khartoum will represent Africa at the 2010 World Cup.

The first Greens fans arrived in Sudan on Monday at 8 am aboard an Air Algerie charter flight, APS reported. The carrier has scheduled 30 departures from Algiers and Constantine to take up to 10,000 fans and journalists to Khartoum. As per an instruction from Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the airline will provide match tickets and visas for free, Echorouk reported.

In related news, the Algerian embassy in Khartoum has been "overwhelmed" by requests for Algerian flags from Sudanese sports clubs and associations seeking to show support for Les Fennecs, Echorouk quoted Algerian Ambassador to Sudan Mohammed Yerki as saying on Monday.