Algerian commentators have branded as “racist” and “xenophobic” new regulations requiring their citizens in Libya to pay an annual tax of . . .[restrict]LD1,000 per family, as well as to have residence visas.
They protest that the visa requirement, imposed by the NTC in November on citizens from a number of other Middle Eastern countries, does not however cover Tunisians and Turks. Nor do nationals from these two countries face any residence tax. A leading article in the Algiers daily Le Courrier d’Algérie reports there is also anger that LD1,000 is now to be levied on every Algerian child attending any Libya school, college or university.
Before the revolution there were some 8,000 Algerians working in Libya, half of whom are now thought to have returned home. Many who stayed supported the uprising. [/restrict]
