ALGIERS, 2 November 2004 — Algerians yesterday celebrated the 50th anniversary of the start of their war of independence with firework displays, cannon salvos and a symphony of car horns and ships’ sirens at the stroke of midnight.

The capital’s streets were filled with parading cars as the long weekend of celebrations continued in the middle of the holy month of Ramadan.

The main firework display exploded in the air above the Martyrs Memorial on one of the hills which dominate Algiers, while in the harbor the cannon salute was echoed by the sound of ships’ sirens offshore.

Conferences, exhibits and performances are planned across the north African country, and media on both sides of the Mediterranean have produced articles and documentaries recalling the start of the bloody war that finally ended in independence for Algeria from France on July 5, 1962, after nearly eight years of merciless fighting.