The lower house of Algeria’s parliament has voted to completely lift emergency law. It was initially suspended late February during mass anti-government protests. By voting to lift the emergency law the authorities commit themselves to easing the domestic political climate in the country.
A state of emergency in Algeria was introduced in early 1990, with a view to combating terrorism and political extremism. At the time, the government’s struggle against the Islamists claimed the lives of at least 200,000 people.