Several people have been injured as police broke up a banned opposition demonstration calling for democracy in Algeria's capital Algiers, reports say.
Many people were also arrested, members of the opposition party which organised the march told AFP and local agencies.
Algeria has witnessed a number of protests in recent weeks, mainly sparked by rising food prices.
But the country is now being watched to see if pro-democracy rallies in neighbouring Tunisia have any effect.
Defying ban
"There are several injured… and numerous arrests," Said Sadi, the head of the Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD), told the AFP.
He said that some 300 people had defied the ban to stage the march.
But the demonstrators were confronted by dozens of riot police armed with batons and tear gas.
Earlier, the authorities warned people not to take part in the protest, saying it was illegal.
They said the organisers had not been given permission by city officials.
