The planned march on Saturday is aimed at pressing for reforms toward democracy.
The weeks-long uprising in Egypt that forced Hosni Mubarak to abandon the presidency after 30 years was bound to fuel the hopes of Algerians seeking change - as did the "people's revolution" in neighboring Tunisia. A month of deadly uprisings there pushed Zine El Abidine Ben Ali into exile Jan. 14.
The head of the opposition Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD), Said Sadi, said the authorities had ringed the capital in a bid to prevent people joining Saturday's march from outside.
"Trains have been stopped and other public transport will be as well," he said.
Sadi claimed that 10,000 police were being drafted into the city, to reinforce the 20,000 who succeeded in blocking the last protest on January 22, when five people were killed and more than 800 hurt in clashes.
Large quantities of tear-gas grenades had been imported, he added.
Anti-riot vehicles were seen parked not far from the square where the rally is scheduled to begin on Saturday, and police in uniform patrolled surrounding streets.
Police roadblocks erected on avenues leading into the city following suicide attacks in 2007 were also strengthened, while local people engaged in frantic stocking-up on food in case deliveries to shops are disrupted.
Meanwhile, a 36-year-old unemployed man and father of six died in eastern Algeria Friday after setting himself on fire on January 17 in regional council offices in eastern Algeria, his family said.
His death brings to four the number of Algerians who have died from self-immolation since January.
Altogether, more than a dozen Algerians have set themselves on fire so far this year, apparently inspired by a similar act in neighbouring Tunisia that catalysed the downfall of that country's authoritarian regime.
End item/ 129
Related News:
1. Facebook & Twitter Blocked in Algeria Amid Riots
2. Red Alarm in Algiers: Algeria protests take place amid 30,000 police deployment
3. Algiers under fire of angry protesters
4.