Chinese, Algerians fight in Algiers - witnesses

A Chinese migrant stands inside his shop in the eastern district of Bab Ezzouar, an area known to locals as ''Chinatown'', August 4, 2009. About 100 Algerians and Chinese migrant workers fought with knives and bludgeons in Algiers, witnesses said on Tuesday, in an unprecedented flare-up of local anger at Chinese immigration.

ALGIERS (Reuters) - About 100 Algerians and Chinese migrant workers fought with knives and bludgeons in the capital Algiers, witnesses said on Tuesday, in an unprecedented flare-up of local anger at Chinese immigration.

Planeloads of Chinese workers have been arriving in the North African oil producer, mainly to work on state-funded construction projects, and their presence has fuelled resentment in a country where 7 out of 10 adults under 30 are unemployed.

A diplomat at China's embassy in Algiers said about 10 Chinese were injured and five Chinese-owned shops were looted in the fighting on Monday in the eastern district of Bab Ezzouar, an area known to locals as "Chinatown".

Local people said a confrontation between a shop owner and a Chinese motorist led to the outbreak of fighting.

"I told him not to park his car in front of my shop, but he insulted me," shopkeeper Abdelkrim Salouda, wearing a bloodstained gown, told Reuters.

"I punched him, I thought it was over, but after 30 minutes he came back with at least 50 Chinese to take revenge. It is a miracle I am still alive," said 31-year-old Salouda.

Witnesses told Reuters about 60 Algerian residents joined the fight.