ALGIERS, March 5 (Reuters) - Hundreds of Algerians went on a
rampage on Sunday, looting and burning a state bank outside the
capital Algiers and clashing with security forces after a youth
died in police custody, residents said.

Several protesters and riot police were injured in the
clashes which followed the death of the young man at a police
station in the coastal town of Zeralda, some 35 km (20 miles)
west of Algiers, they said.

No details were available about the circumstances of the
death of the young man and government officials were not
immediately available for comment.

Police used tear gas to disperse the angry rioters who set
fire to a bank after looting it. The rioters threw stones at
police and attempted to attack more public buildings, the
residents added.

Sporadic riots erupt across the North African country to
protest social problems, including acute housing shortage and
unemployment.

The government says it is investing $80 billion over the
next five years to improve standards of living, boost growth and
modernise infrastructures.