Students Rally in Algerian Capital to Get Rid of Former Regime Symbols - Photo

ALGIERS (Sputnik) - Mass anti-government protests swept Algeria in February, when Abdelaziz Bouteflika, aged 82, said he would run for a fifth term. The long-time leader resigned from the post, which he had held for 20 years, in April amid growing pressure.

Dozens of Algerian students rallied on Tuesday in front of the headquarters of the National Commission for Dialogue and Mediation in the national capital of Algiers, urging for the vestiges of former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's regime to be abandoned.

Students were chanting slogans rejecting the calls for a presidential election and demanding that the symbols of the former regime be gotten rid of. They were also holding banners calling for the release of public freedom activists.

27e mardi : marche des #étudiants, enseignants et personnel de l'#Université de #Béjaia.#حراك #Algérie #Alger #Direct #الجزائر #Hirak #Bensalah #Gaid_Salah pic.twitter.com/8uI8bdMUCT

— Observ'Algérie (@ObservAlgerie) August 27, 2019

​Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who held office for two decades, resigned in April following a series of anti-government protests.

After Bouteflika's resignation, his ally, Parliament Speaker Abdelkader Bensalah, took over the role of head of state for 90 days, as provided for by the country's Constitution. The next presidential election was supposed to be held on 4 July, but was then postponed over lack of candidates, while a new date has not been set.

Meanwhile, rallies continue, with protesters calling for the old guard to be removed from power.