Chanting "No election on Dec. 12!" and "Nothing will stop us!" as a police helicopter flew overhead, the demonstrators in Algiers continued their demands for an end to Algeria’s post-colonial political system. Those demands include the departure of acting leader Abdelkader Bensalah and powerful army chief Gen. Ahmed Gaid Salah.
Protest organizers estimated that tens of thousands participated in Friday’s demonstration in the Algerian capital.
Although long-time former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika
...10th president-for-life of Algeria. He was elected in 1999 and served on his third or four terms. When he announced for the fifth, or maybe it was the sixth, visibly doddering, a grateful nation rose up in its wrath and threw him out...was ousted from power in April by the demonstrators, his legacy spawned a deep distrust of government that remains. The protesters don’t believe that those currently in power will ensure a democratic election because of their past links to the ailing, 82-year-old former leader.
The demonstrations on Friday formed a ballooning sea of placards and banners that stretched 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) down a key street in Algiers.
Thousands of protesters also erupted into the streets in the country’s big cities, including Oran, Constantine and Setif.
Coming from all sections of society - including students, doctors and teachers - the protesters who have turned out in the thousands since February are united behind a common goal of holding transparent national elections to install a brand-new leadership. They reject the vote being organized by the current leadership, whom they perceive as corrupt.