The head of communications for the Algerian police says officers who beat up two students at a recent demonstration could face criminal proceedings.
Djilali Boudalia said Wednesday there were "no instructions to use force" against students protesting Sunday in front of the Ministry of Higher Education in the capital, Algiers.
He said an investigation was under way, and that the officers behind the beatings will be handed "severe sanctions."
Tensions were high in this North African country since last month’s ouster of the autocratic president in neighboring Tunisia, and subsequent uprisings in Egypt and Libya — which shares a border with Algeria.
Massive police deployments largely quashed two pro-reform marches earlier this month.
