Cairo, Egypt - Maybe the war between Algeria and Egypt is not quite finished. The Cairo International Book Fair, to be held this January, has already experienced the fallout of the recent football row that saw Egyptians and Algerians attack one another in the street. Publishers are pulling out of the region’s largest book fair. The Algerian National Union of Book Publishers has decided, after the meeting of the Executive Board in its regular session held December 17 last, to boycott the Cairo International Book Fair to be held in January.

Algeria is planning to introduce a centralised system for filtering (i.e. censoring) the internet. It is also proposing stiff penalties for anyone who circumvents the government's filtering, according to the Magharebia news website. Algeria is one of the few Arab countries (along with Egypt and Iraq) that does not routinely block access to disapproved websites at present, though it seeks to control internet use in other ways.

Algiers, Algeria - Maghreb film-makers and directors made a strong showing in France at the 14th International Prize for Mediterranean Documentary and Reportage organised by the Mediterranean Centre for Audiovisual Communication (CMCA), which ended its 5-day run in Marseilles on Monday (December 14th).

An Algerian court on Sunday sentenced Guantanamo Bay detainee Ahmed Belbacha to 20 years in prison for being part of an "overseas terrorist group." Belbacha has been cleared for release from the US military prison facility but has said he does not want to return to his home country of Algeria for fear of torture and has requested asylum in the US. Belbacha has been held in Guantanamo since 2002 after he was captured in Pakistan

Algiers, Algeria - In a move to boost the country's film industry, Algeria plans to create a state-owned cinema-production company, ANSA reported on Monday (November 9th). Culture Minister Khalida Toumi said the funds necessary for the creation of the studio would be included in the "cinema bill to be presented to Parliament in 2010".

Algiers, Algeria - Despite some stormy disagreements, the Salon du Livre d'Alger (SILA) 2009 is under way in Algiers and will run until Friday (November 6th). This year's slogan for the international book fair, the most important literary event in Algeria, is "The Book is King". More than 120,000 titles are on offer to readers at the event.

Algiers, Algeria - The Ministry of Culture advertised a book that insulted the president Abdelaziz Bouteflika and criticized the regime in Algeria, allowing even a dedication at Mohamed Zinet cinema room, at Ryad El Feth, Algiers. The novel, entitled "Poutakhine", written by Mehdi El Jazairi, has obtained an ISBN number through the Ministry of Culture despite containing harsh criticism of President of the Republic Bouteflika.

Algiers, Algeria - The production team for Star Academy Maghreb rolled into Algiers on Sunday (October 25th), where over a hundred aspiring performers nervously waited to audition. Organisers estimate 160 young people came to perform, each hoping for a chance at stardom.

Cairo, Egypt - The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), stated that the upcoming 27th of October will be a critical day for press freedom in Algeria, as the court of Djelfa, southern Algeria, will issue its sentence against the journalist Hefnawy bin Amer Al-Ghoul. The Prosecutor General accused Al-Ghoul of insult, libel and defamation of "governmental bodies", as well as the "abuse of power" in three different cases which penalties range from 34 months to 14 years in prison and fines in accordance with Articles 156 and 66 of the Algerian Penal Code.

Algiers, Algeria - The Special Envoy of the Organization for the Protection of Journalists (Reporters Without Borders ), Ms. S. Emmanuelle was received yesterday at the headquarters of the daily Ennahar, which she visited as part of her visit in the country to investigate the situation of Algerian journalists.

People living in a slum district of the Algerian capital have taken to the streets for a second day to protest against job and housing shortages. Residents of the Diar Echams area, frustrated over high unemployment and inadequate housing, clashed with police on Wednesday having started their protest on Monday night. The police said at least 11 officers were hurt, although no figure of civilian casualties was given.

Algiers police fire on slum protest

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Algerian fans display a 70m (230 feet) long flag at Hussein-dey district in Algiers November 13, 2009. FIFA has asked Egypt for written guarantees confirming additional security measures to protect the Algerian squad ahead of a tense World Cup qualifier on Saturday. Algerian state radio reported that three players were slightly hurt when youths stoned the Algeria team bus as it arrived in Cairo on Thursday. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra (ALGERIA SPORT SOCCER)

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Algeria's Abdelkader Ghezzal celebrates after scoring against Rwanda during their World Cup 2010 qualifying soccer match at Tachaker stadium in Blida, southwest of Algiers October 11, 2009. REUTERS/Louafi Larbi (ALGERIA SPORT SOCCER)

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Algerian fans queue at the gates of the International Houari Boumediene airport in Algiers for flight to Khartoum, on November 16, 2009 in Algeirs. Thirty special flights were being added from Algiers to Khartoum with fans being charged around 200 dollars for a return ticket, a quarter of the usual fare, in order to attend the World Cup 2010 qualifying football match Algeria versus Egypt. The match will take place on November 18. AFP PHOTO / FAYEZ NURELDINE (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images)

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Algerian fans, wearing the national flag, make their way to the International Houari Boumediene airport in Algiers for a flight to Khartoum, on November 16, 2009 in Algiers. Thirty special flights were being added from Algiers to Khartoum with fans being charged around 200 dollars for a return ticket, a quarter of the usual fare, in order to attend the World Cup 2010 qualifying football match Algeria versus Egypt. The match will take place on November 18. AFP PHOTO / FAYEZ NURELDINE (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images)

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Players of the Algerian national football team wave national flags from a bus roof as they are welcome by their fans at Houari Boumediene International airport, in Algiers on November 19, 2009 to celebrate their victory over Egypt after the World Cup 2010 qualifying football match Algeria vs. Egypt in Karthoum the day before. AFP PHOTO / FAYEZ NURELDINE (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images)

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A picture taken November 14, 2009 shows deserted streets of central Algiers during the football match between Algeria and Egypt for the 2010 World Cup African zone group C qualifications. AFP PHOTO / FAYEZ NURELDINE (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images)

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Algerian national football team players wave national flags on a bus roof as they are welcome by their fans at Houari Boumediene International airport, on November 19, 2009 to celebrate their victory over Egypt after the World Cup 2010 qualifying football match Algeria vs. Egypt in Karthoum. AFP PHOTO / FAYEZ NURELDINE (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images)

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Algerian fans demonstrate after a newspaper published photographs of what the newspaper claimed were Algerian football fans wounded during a World Cup qualifier between Egypt and Algeria in Cairo, in Algiers November 16, 2009. FIFA should have postponed Saturday's tense World Cup qualifier after the visiting team bus was attacked in Cairo, Algeria's midfielder Khaled Lemmouchia said. The incident prompted FIFA to ask Egypt for written guarantees confirming additional security measures to protect the Algerian squad, while the Egyptian FA claimed the incident was staged by the Algerians. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra (ALGERIA SPORT SOCCER CONFLICT POLITICS)

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An Algerian fan, wearing a scarf, makes his way to the International Houari Boumediene airport in Algiers for a flight to Khartoum, on November 16, 2009 in Algiers. Thirty special flights were being added from Algiers to Khartoum with fans being charged around 200 dollars for a return ticket, a quarter of the usual fare, in order to attend the World Cup 2010 qualifying football match Algeria versus Egypt. The match will take place on November 18. AFP PHOTO / FAYEZ NURELDINE (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images)

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Players of the Algerian national football team wave national flags from a bus roof as they are welcome by their fans at Houari Boumediene International airport, in Algiers on November 19, 2009 to celebrate their victory over Egypt after the World Cup 2010 qualifying football match Algeria vs. Egypt in Karthoum the day before. AFP PHOTO / FAYEZ NURELDINE (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images)

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