Thousands of Algerians demonstrated Friday in the capital and other cities, calling for the departure of all symbols of the regime of former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and renewed their refusal to hold presidential elections supervised by the current authority.
In the capital, protesters demanded that the symbols of the Bouteflika regime be removed from decision-making circles. They chanted slogans demanding a genuine democratic transition of power.
The heavily deployed police forces tried to prevent demonstrators from reaching the central post square before they could break through the security cordon and reach the heart of the popular movement.
Demonstrations also took place in the far western city of Tlemcen, demanding the removal of all symbols of the Bouteflika regime, the fight against corruption, and the fulfillment of the movement's demands.
In the eastern city of Skikda, a demonstration took place in which demonstrators chanted slogans demanding the release of detainees, a free press, and an independent judiciary. They also demanded that all symbols of Bouteflika's regime and the fight against corruption be held accountable.
Annaba also witnessed a similar demonstration. In Constantine, there were demonstrations in which participants chanted slogans demanding justice and the departure of symbols of the former regime and holding them accountable.
5 demands
This is the 29th Friday since the outbreak of the movement last February. The websites circulated a list of five demands made by the demonstrators:
- Establishing an independent high commission to organize elections, continuing the campaign against corruption, freedom of the media and ending the state of harassment, going to the symbols of the regime, and free and fair elections that produce a legitimate president.
Friday's demonstrations came days after the army chief of staff called for presidential elections before the end of the year.
Since Bouteflika's resignation on April 2, Algeria has been politically obstructed by hardened positions on the most appropriate exit from the crisis.
Differentiated positions
Parties and organizations - mostly leftist and secular - are calling for the abolition of the constitution and the election of a constituent assembly to lead the transition.
The other movement and politicians support the efforts of the dialogue committee to organize elections as soon as possible.
A third stream is pushing for the departure of all symbols of Bouteflika's regime, such as interim President Abdelkader Bensalah and Prime Minister Noureddine Badawi, and the appointment of consensual figures before any elections.
On more than one occasion, the army leadership rejected the transitional proposal and declared its support for the dialogue and mediation team, which is trying to overcome the crisis, hoping to hold presidential elections soon without preconditions such as the departure of the government.