Media

Home page

Media

Big anti-Bouteflika protest fills Algerian capital

08 March 2019 23:58 (UTC +04:00)

Tens of thousands of Algerians packed central Algiers to capacity on Friday to challenge President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s 20-year-old rule in the biggest protests in the capital in 28 years, ONA reports citing Reuters.

While the demonstrations were mostly peaceful, police used tear gas to block the road to the presidential palace and also used it in several other areas of the capital.

In its latest addition, quoted by the state news agency, the army magazine described the relationship between the military and Algerians in positive terms.

“Both belong to one country, no alternative to it,” said Djeich magazine. Both the people and the army had the same vision and destiny, it said.

It did not mention the unrest but the army chief of staff has said the military would not tolerate any threats to the stability of the country.

Unusually, one of the most popular imams, or prayer leaders, in Algiers did not pray for the president as he does every Friday, and only wished the best for Algeria and its people.

Algerians fed up with unemployment, corruption and an elderly elite seen as out of touch with the young have taken to the streets for the past two weeks to protest against the 82-year-old’s plans to remain in office.

“Tear gas is becoming more frequent,” said a witness, as teenagers on rooftops monitored police movements on the streets.

Underscoring frustrations with the entire Algerian political system, protesters put signs on the heads of donkeys with the names of ruling party figures and a member of the opposition.

Several lawmakers of the ruling FLN party have resigned to join the mass anti-government protests, the private Ashourouq TV station said on Friday. No details were immediately available.

Train and metro services in Algiers were suspended without explanation before Algerians gathered in the capital and several other cities including Constantine, Annaba, Skikda, Bouira and Tizi Ouzou to press the 82-year-old Bouteflika to step down.

The ailing Bouteflika is in hospital in Geneva and has rarely been seen in public since suffering a stroke in 2013.

On Thursday he issued his first warning to protesters, saying the unrest, now entering its third week, could create chaos in North African country, an oil and gas producer.