UPDATE – Algeria Constitution Council head resigns amid protests

ADDS DETAIL, BACKGROUND</p> <p>By Abdul Razak bin Abdullah</p> <p>ALGIERS (AA) – Tayeb Belaiz, head of Algeria’s Constitutional Council, has announced his resignation amid continued popular demonstrations demanding the departure of all government officials affiliated with former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.</p> <p>“Belaiz has tendered his resignation to the head of state, Abdelkader Bensalah,” read a Tuesday statement issued by the Constitutional Council and carried by Algeria’s state-run news agency.</p> <p>The 82-year-old Bouteflika, who had ruled Algeria since 1999, stepped down early this month following weeks of popular protest against his rule.</p> <p>Parliamentary Speaker Abdelkader Bensalah is now serving as head of state for a 90-day “transitional period” to be overseen by the Algerian army.</p> <p>Last Friday, hundreds of thousands of people staged demonstrations across Algeria to demand the departure of all government officials affiliated with the Bouteflika regime — including Belaiz.</p> <p>Friday’s demonstrations came three days after Bensalah was sworn in as interim president vowing to hold “free and transparent” elections before the end of the transitional phase.