This week marks 60 years since some 200 Algerians were murdered in central Paris by French police. At the height of the Algerian War of Independence, thousands of people, most of them Algerians living in the suburbs of Paris, descended on the capital demanding an end to French colonial rule in Algeria. The state's response was brutal, and those responsible for the massacre enjoyed protection for many years. We look back at the terrible events of October 17, 1961 and hear from a 92-year-old eyewitness.

Firefighters in Algeria are finally making progress in their battle against blazes that have ravaged northern parts of the country. Emergency services say most of the forest fires in the worst-hit region of Tizi Ouzou have been extinguished thanks to fire crews, army engineers, civilian volunteers and the help of two French firefighting planes. Fuelled by high wind and extreme heat, the fires have killed at least 90 people since August 9.

Hundreds of Algerians have defied a nationwide ban on protests and taken to the streets of Algiers to demand democratic change and mark the anniversary of 1988 demonstrations that ushered in reforms.

Algerians are due to vote in a parliamentary election on Thursday but many people say they have decided not to cast their ballot.