Hope for survivors dwindles in Algeria

The death toll from the killer earthquake that struck Algeria jumped over 2,000 Sunday, with chances diminishing of finding anyone else alive as fears rose over a looming epidemic.

Grief has given way to anger among Algerians, who blame the government for a shoddy rescue effort and for the massive loss of life caused by corrupt building practices.

Hundreds of protesters hurled insults and some stones at President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Saturday, forcing him to abort a visit to Bourmerdes, leaving after just a few minutes.

"Rulers - killers" they shouted. "Get lost, get screwed!" one cried. "Tents! Water! We need everything!" shouted others.

The interior ministry on Sunday said 2,047 people had lost their lives in the massive quake, and more than 8,600 people were injured in the tremor, the worst to hit the north African country since 1980.

Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia said on state radio he feared no further survivors would be found from the deadly tremor, which struck around the capital last Wednesday.

"Rescue operations are continuing, but there comes a moment after which the operations will begin to become hopeless," he said.

The premier made the comments hours after four further survivors were pulled from the rubble, nearly three days after the earthquake.

A mother and child were rescued from the ruins of their home in Bourmerdes, 50 kilometers (30 miles) east of Algiers, where a 10-year-old girl was also reportedly saved. A 21-year-old man was unearthed from a destroyed hotel in Zemmouri, 20 kilometers further to the east, more than 52 hours after the quake brought it down.

Meanwhile, hundreds of aftershocks have rattled buildings and further frayed the nerves of residents. While there were no immediate reports of the aftershocks causing any damage, it was feared the tremors could cause already dangerously unstable buildings to collapse, leading to further casualties.

The epicenter of the strongest aftershock to hit the region Saturday -- it measured 4.1 on the Richter scale -- was located some 60 kilometers east of the capital. Wednesday's quake topped out at 6.3, the Algerian seismological institute said.

Liberal newspapers and opposition politicians have joined in the chorus of criticism against the government's response to the crisis, while fingering a corrupt construction industry for the heavy death toll.