From the archive, 4 July 1962: Algiers in frenzy of joy following independence
Demonstrations of almost hysterical enthusiasm greeted M. Ben Khedda, the Prime Minister of the new Algerian Republic, on his return to Algiers today, the first day of Algerian independence.
The countryside seemed to be covered with Algerian flags and everyone from small children to elderly veiled women and bent men were waving frenziedly. Throughout the triumphal route through the city banners had been erected across the streets thanking M. Ben Khedda for having delivered the country from bondage to freedom.
Girls in white and green threw bouquets at him. Hundreds of pounds of confetti was tossed from the top balconies of apartments when his procession of cars passed through the poor Moslem suburbs of Hussein Dey and Touba.
In the narrow streets where the balconies were full of cheering people, the Prime Minister once or twice was seen to put his hands over his ears and many times he was forced to wipe the sweat and the dust from his face. He was followed after the cavalcade by numbers of heavily armed members of the ALN (National Liberation Army) and unfortunately many freelance supporters in no uniform, but carrying, like the traditional rebels, revolvers and hand grenades in their belts.
Small, and wearing a thick European suit and glasses, the Prime Minister had looked more confused than deeply moved as he had stepped on to free Algerian soil for the first time at the Maison Blanche airport. He was accompanied by his Cabinet, the former GPRA (Provisional Government in exile) excluding, of course, M. Ben Bella and his supporters.
Outside the airport he transferred to an open car and throughout most of the journey he stood up receiving the noisy acclamations of hundreds of thousands of Moslems who lined the route. They were kept from the road by members of the ALN, the FLN (National Liberation Front), groups of senior Boy Scouts and Girl Guides and at various points French anti-riot squads.
At the Algiers Prefecture, where earlier the flag of the FLN had been ceremoniously hoisted, he was greeted by vast crowds which shouted "Three cheers for Algerian independence," "Long live Algeria," and "Honour to our martyrs." At one moment sweat and emotion caused his spectacles to fall from his face to the ground. The crowds became increasingly hysterical, and troops could hardly prevent some of them from surging into the prefecture.
Indeed, it is difficult to see how some small mishaps can be avoided. So many people are armed, and some thousands of crowded cars and trucks are dashing round the streets at full speed, tooting to the tune of "Algérie Algérienne" and the occupants shrieking Nationalist slogans. The hand-over of authority here, however, appears to have gone smoothly.