Algerians hold anti-regime demos for 11th Friday in row

<p>By Abdelrazzak Abdullah</p> <p>ALGIERS (AA) – Hundreds of thousands of Algerians staged demonstrations across the country on Friday to demand the departure of all government officials closely associated with former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.</p> <p>The 82-year-old Bouteflika resigned early last month after weeks of popular protests against his 20-year rule.</p> <p>Parliament Speaker Abdelkader Bensalah is now serving as interim president for a 90-day transitional period — overseen by the army — during which presidential elections will be conducted.</p> <p>Demonstrators, however, have continued to demand the departure of all Bouteflika-era officials, including Bensalah.</p> <p>They also demand the prosecution of Said Bouteflika, the former president’s influential brother, who has been described by detractors as the “gang leader”.</p> <p>On Friday, hundreds of protesters converged on the capital’s Al-Barid Square — for the eleventh week in a row — where they shouted anti-regime slogans and demanded accountability for alleged Bouteflika-era abuses.</p> <p>Demonstrators have vowed to maintain their protests through the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which will begin early next week.</p> <p>Meanwhile, security has been dramatically stepped up in and around capital Algiers, especially near the presidential palace. </p> <p><br></p> <p>*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat</p>