Algerian Police Carry Out Mass Detentions Of Protesters In Country's Capital - Reports

Muhammad Irfan Published May 25, 2019 | 12:50 AM

CAIRO (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th May, 2019) The Algerian police carried out mass detentions of demonstrators near the capital's main post office on Friday as the country has been experiencing a huge wave of protests for a third month in a row, local media reported.

The securities forces have cordoned off the building, preventing people from approaching it, according to the El Khabar daily. No serious clashes or incidents have ensued.

The El Watan newspaper, meanwhile, reported that the demonstrators had demanded that the July 4 presidential election be scrapped and warned against installing a military rule in the country.

After long-time Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika resigned in April and his main supporters were removed from power, the Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ahmed Gaid Salah has been considered one of the main figures in the country's political arena. He, however, denies that the military has any political ambitions.

Earlier this week, the army chief called for accelerating preparations for the election, which, he believes, should put an end to the political crisis.

He also denounced the protesters' calls for for removing all of Bouteflika's supporters from power as "unreasonable."

An acute political crisis broke out in Algeria in February after then-ailing president Bouteflika announced his bid to seek a fifth term in the office, triggering a wave of anti-government protests. On March 11, Bouteflika withdrew his bid for re-election and postponed the vote, initially scheduled for April 18. However, protests continued, with people demanding immediate changes.

On April 2, Bouteflika stepped down. The speaker of the country's upper house, Abdelkader Bensalah, who temporarily replaces president under constitution, has set new presidential election for July 4.

Nationwide protests, nevertheless, are still underway, with demonstrators demanding that all politicians who received offices under Bouteflika resign.