Long-awaited Algeria metro opens

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika (centre) tries out the new metro system in Algiers on 31 October 2011Many Algerians have complained that the cost of the metro is too high

Africa’s second metro system has opened – in the Algerian capital, Algiers.

Construction began 28 years ago, but was halted – firstly because of an oil crisis in the 1980s and later during a decade of civil unrest.

The metro was opened by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, at a ceremony attended by hundreds of residents keen to try out the new transport system.

The 6.5km (4 miles) of track has 10 stops, and connects Algiers’ Central Post Office to the suburb of Kouba.

Work began on the project back in the early 1980s, but was interrupted when a collapse in worldwide oil and gas prices sent Algeria’s economy into free fall.

The country is the world’s fourth largest

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