World

Algeria sets presidential election for 4 July after protests

April 12, 2019 7:09 am

Algeria will hold presidential elections on 4 July, interim leader Abdelkader Bensalah has announced.

It comes after a wave of protests led long-term President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, 82, to resign last week.

Demonstrations continued on Wednesday, with more expected.

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The temporary appointment of Mr Bensalah, speaker of the Algerian parliament’s upper house, has frustrated some protesters who hoped for more radical change.

Following the announcement, crowds took to the streets of the capital, Algiers, demanding he step down.

Mr Bensalah had pledged to hold free elections within 90 days in line with the country’s constitution, but many see the 77-year-old as too close to the former president.