Riot police pulled back from positions in Algeria's capital as protesters massed in an iconic square, demanding the departure of the country's interim leadership in the first Friday demonstrations since the announcement of presidential elections to succeed ousted leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
A larger-than-usual police deployment met protesters who converged on Algiers, lining boulevards and checking all vehicles entering the city. Skirmishes broke out at the outset of the protest near the landmark main post office.
Apparently wanting to avoid an escalation of violence, rows of riot police then suddenly started pulling back from the area, lowering their face shields and truncheons. The crowd broke out in applause as police vans drove away, shouting "The police with the people!"
Protest organizers encouraged Algerians to come out in Algiers and other cities to show that Bouteflika’s departure last week is not enough, that they want wholesale political change.
Anger is also mounting at military chief Gen. Ahmed Gaid Salah, who was instrumental in Bouteflika's departure after a two-decade rule but then threw his support behind the interim president, Abdelkader Bensalah, who is seen as part of the old regime.
Presidential elections are to be held on July 4, Bensalah's office announced on Wednesday, just hours after he pledged "transparent" polls.
The new date was set a day after Bensalah assumed office for a 90-day period, as stipulated by the constitution but much to the ire of demonstrators.
Although Bensalah is barred under the constitution from running in the upcoming election, protesters have nonetheless pushed for the close Bouteflika ally to step down.
"Bensalah, get out!" the protesters shouted on Friday, as a river of people adorned in green-white-red Algerian flags wove through the city.
The demonstrators argue that elections cannot be free and fair if they are held under the same judicial framework and institutions as those of the Bouteflika regime.
