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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 12 March 2019

Algeria's president abandons bid for 5th term amid protests

By AOMAR OUALI The unprecedented citi-
ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — Al- zens' revolt drew millions
gerian President Abdelaziz into the streets of cities
Bouteflika bowed to un- across the country to de-
precedented public pro- mand that Bouteflika aban-
tests Monday and prom- don his candidacy.
ised not to seek a fifth term On Monday, Algerian teen-
after 20 years in power. agers and lawyers held
In a letter to the nation re- protests, and workers held
leased by state news agen- scattered walkouts, as the
cy APS, the ailing leader tense nation waited to see
also said the presidential what concessions Boutef-
election scheduled for April lika would give, if any.
18 would be postponed. His capitulation on a re-
He promised to establish a election bid likely will as-
panel to plan a resched- suage some concerns.
uled vote. Security was high Monday
Bouteflika, who is 82, has in the capital of Algiers,
barely been seen in pub- where some businesses
lic since a 2013 stroke. His were shuttered by a sec-
decision to run again set ond day of strikes. Other
off protests in February and stores and administrative
have expanded to include offices remained open.
broader complaints about Middle school and high
corruption and heavy- school students held pro-
handed security policies. Algerian people display the national flag as tthey celebrate in the streets of Algiers, after President tests in several towns, ac-
Abdelaziz Bouteflika announced that he is delaying the April 18 election and won't seek another
The president returned Sun- term, Monday, March 11, 2019. cording to local media.
day from two weeks in a Associated Press Education Minister Nouria
Geneva hospital, but his Bengahbrit appealed on
health problems and over- "national conference" he news agency APS. tions swirl over whether he her Facebook page for
all condition remain un- would task with planning Critics fear the moves is really running the country protesters to "leave schools
clear. the vote also would be re- could pave the way for the today. out of political turbulence"
Celebrations popped up sponsible for drafting a new president to install a hand- The recent protests sur- shaking the country.
instead of protests on the constitution for Algeria. picked successor. prised Algeria's opaque Meanwhile, lawyers in
streets of the capital, Al- He said he would name an A wily political survivor, leadership and freed the black robes gathered in
giers, at the news the interim government as well. Bouteflika fought in Alge- country's people, long fear- front of courthouses to join
president had dropped his The changes were put in ria's independence war ful of a watchful security calls for Bouteflika to aban-
re-election bid. Car horns motion within hours. against French forces and apparatus, to openly criti- don his bid for re-election.
rang out while people Noureddine Bedoui, a has played a role in Alge- cize the president. Some judges joined a law-
waved Algerian flags and Bouteflika loyalist and the ria's major developments Algerians also expressed yers' protest in the city of
sang the national anthem. current interior minister, for the past half-century. anger over corruption that Bedjaia.
Bouteflika did not give a was made prime minister He became president in put their country's oil and Judges are normally
date or timeline for the de- and charged with forming 1999 and reconciled a na- gas riches in the hands of a banned from publicly dem-
layed election. He said in the new administration, ac- tion riven by a deadly Is- few while millions of young onstrating, as are police of-
his Monday letter that the cording to Algerian state lamic insurgency, but ques- people struggle to find jobs. ficers and soldiers.q