ALGIERS, March 2: Hundreds of thousands of cheering Algerians took to the streets of the capital Sunday to welcome President Jacques Chirac at the start of a visit billed as marking a fresh start in the troubled relationship between France and its former colony.

Crowds lined the 15-kilometre route from the airport to Algiers city centre, jamming the footpaths and hanging from balconies, trees and lampposts to wave and clap as Chirac’s motorcade passed.

Algerian security sources put their numbers at 1.5 million.

The high point of the three-day trip — the highest-ranking French visit since the two countries made their peace 41 years ago — was to be the signing of a declaration of friendship intended to seal a new era of bilateral cooperation. Chirac was set to hold two rounds of talks with Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and address the Algerian parliament.—AFP