Algeria activist promotes peaceful protests with signature 'orange vests'

An Algerian youth activist has launched an initiative to promote peaceful pro-democracy rallies as police begin to toughen their tactics to quell the movement.

Toufik Omrane has begun distributing orange vests inscribed with the Arabic word Selmeya "peaceful" in a bid to prevent clashes with security forces.

"The aim is for the ongoing to protests be civilised and avoid violence," Omrane told The New Arab's Arabic-language service on Thursday.

He added that protest organiser will wear the vest during planned rallies this weekend to create a human shield between security forces and demonstrators.

The initiative comes after police used tear gas and water cannons to break up rallies last weekend, which saw the worst street violence seen so far since marches began in mid-February.

Protesters are demanding an end to the regime of ousted president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who finally resigned on April 2.

Demonstrators have vowed to push on with rallies against the interim government of Abdelkader Bensalah and its planned July 4 elections, arguing that leaders who emerged from the Bouteflika "system" cannot guarantee free and fair polls.