Algerians took to the streets of the capital Algiers Tuesday to protest against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's decision to delay presidential elections indefinitely.
His announcement Monday to withdraw his candidacy for a fifth term cheered his opponents.
But on Tuesday, there was more skepticism over his decision to delay an April 18 election without setting a new date, which opponents say could leave him in power indefinitely.
Many protesters are now demanding that Bouteflika step down April 18 instead of waiting for a new vote.
More student protests are planned in other cities and nationwide protests are expected Friday.
Bouteflika, 82, abandoned his bid for a fifth term, bowing to weeks of rallies against his 20-year rule by people demanding a new era of politics in a country dominated by an old guard.
Protesters question Bouteflika's fitness for office after a 2013 stroke that has left him largely hidden from public view.
Veteran Algerian diplomat, Lakhdar Brahimi, and protest groups will join a conference planning the country’s future after Bouteflika’s announcement, a government source said on Tuesday.
Brahimi, a former foreign minister and UN special envoy, is expected to chair the conference, the source told Reuters. It will oversee the transition, draft a new constitution and set the date for elections.
After meeting the president on Monday, Brahimi praised protesters for acting responsibly, saying on state television that it was necessary to “turn this crisis into a constructive process”.
French President Emmanuel Macron said Bouteflika’s decision opened a new chapter and called for a “reasonable duration” to the transition period.
The US State Department said it supported Algeria's efforts to chart a new path forward.
"We support efforts in Algeria to chart a new path forward based on dialogue that reflects the will of all Algerians and their aspirations for a peaceful and prosperous future," State Department spokesman Robert Palladino told a news briefing.
Algeria’s powerful military is expected to play a behind-the-scenes role during the transition and is currently considering several civilians as candidates for the presidency and other top positions, political sources said.
