Hundreds of protesters headed to Central Algiers on Friday, the 10th consecutive week of demonstrations, as they seek radical change to Algeria’s government.
Authorities have closed entrances to the capital, for the second week, blocking hundreds of cars as people drove from outside the capital.
Some protesters arrived in Algiers on Thursday to avoid being blocked outside.
“We were afraid that we will not get in the capital, so we arrived yesterday and slept in the car,’’ said Ramadan Kezadri, who came from city of Batna, some 400 kilometres south-east of Algiers.
“Closing the entrances is to suppress the march and the popular will and restricts the freedom of demonstration guaranteed by the Algerian Constitution,’’ said Kezdari.
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Protests have forced long-time ruler, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, to resign on April 2.
Since then, demonstrations continued to pressure senior members of government seen as Bouteflika’s allies out of power, including interim President Abdelkader Bensalah.
“Our goal is that they all resign,’’ said Bilal Bodouma, 25, who went to the Central Post square, where protesters usually gather.
Protesters have also rejected incumbent Prime Minister, Noureddine Bedoui, who was appointed by Bouteflika shortly before he resigned.
On April 9, Bensalah was appointed by parliament to lead the North African country in a three-month transitional period.
He has set the presidential vote for July 4.
The opposition has since called for an overhaul of the political system in the country. (NAN)
