Huge crowds have called on President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to leave office during demonstrations held after Friday prayers in the capital and other cities across Algeria.
A sea of demonstrators, young and old, had thronged the streets chanting "Bye, bye Bouteflika!" and "Peaceful! Peaceful!" Many were draped in the Algerian flag and carried placards and banners.
Large scale demonstrations against plans for Bouteflika to seek a fifth term in power in April elections began a week ago, but Friday saw the biggest turnout yet.
“Our response to (Prime Minister Ahmed) Ouyahia has been strong …. Algeria will never be another Syria, there will never be a bloodshed,” said Radia, a university student.
On Thursday, Ouyahia warned in remarks at the parliament “against a repeat of the Syrian scenario in Algeria.”
Another demonstrator, Ibrahim Aisaroun said that he had a duty to participate with his compatriots in “this celebration.”
“It’s about time for this regime to go,” said the mobile phone vendor.
“It is no longer acceptable for them to hide behind a sick man incapable of running the country,” said Aisaroun about Bouteflika and his entourage.
The 81-year-old president suffered a stroke in 2013 and has been seen in public only a few times since. His candidacy for the April 18 election stoked resentment among Algerians who believe he is not fit to lead.
In several of Friday’s protests, police confronted demonstrators by firing tear gas amid clashes that left dozens of people injured.
Crowds included families with small children and women.
The protests have been largely organized by a movement called Mouwatana, or citizenship, that gathers various opposition parties and activists and wants Bouteflika to renounce his decision to seek a new term.
The president has been in Switzerland for the past week for “routine medical checks” announced by his office in a statement.
