Hundreds of thousands of Algerians took to the streets of the capital Algiers on Friday to protest for sweeping political change following the resignation of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika earlier this week.
The crowd appeared the largest yet over seven straight Fridays of protests against a power structure seen as corrupt and repressive, according to an Associated Press reporter who has covered each one.
Despite being crammed shoulder to shoulder at some points in the hours-long demonstration, protesters remained good-spirited, with palpable joy at Bouteflika's resignation.
The demonstrators are pushing for the removal of what they see as an outdated and opaque political apparatus, built around the ruling party, army officers, businessmen, unions and veterans of a 1954-62 independence war against France.
"We want a new generation to govern this wealthy country and to secure a better future for the people," said 80-year-old woman Yamina, standing with her five grandchildren as crowds jammed downtown streets.
"We want to uproot the symbols of the system," said teacher Ahmed Badili, as hundreds of people waved national flags from the balconies of buildings. Others handed out sweets and bottled water.
Said Wafi, a bank worker from the nearby city of Boumerdes, had arrived at 5:00 am in hope of being "the first demonstrator against the system".
"Bouteflika leaving means nothing if his men continue to run the country," the 42-year-old said.
Samir Ouzine, 19, a student, agreed.
"Bouteflika was very sick. He wasn't really governing, and nothing will change if he alone leaves and his men stay."
The rallies were held shortly after the country’s spy chief was reportedly fired in a further sign of high-level turbulence after the veteran president resigned.
The intelligence chief, retired army general Athmane Tartag, was a close ally of Bouteflika, who quit on Tuesday under pressure from the army.
The military said it was acting in the national interest after weeks of largely peaceful anti-government demonstrations.
Bouteflika's departure has not eased tensions despite the appointment of a caretaker government which will stay in office until elections in three months' time.
This Friday, protesters pushed for the removal of Prime Minister Nouredine Bedoui, upper house of parliament chairman Abdelkader Bensalah, and Tayeb Belaiz, head of the constitutional council -- all seen as establishment figures.
Many banners read "3B's must go."
Protests were also held around the country, from Tamanrasset and oil-rich Ouargla deep in the Sahara to the Mediterranean port city of Skikda, according to website TSA.
In the weeks before his resignation, Bouteflika's inner circle had already been depleted by the exit of several close allies from influential positions in politics and business.
Tartag's departure was reported by the private Ennahar TV, and two political sources confirmed that he had been sacked.
Ennahar added that his position would return to the supervision of the defense ministry, rather than the presidency, a move that appears to strengthen the army's hand.
The intelligence service has in the past been an important part of the military's influence in national affairs, and played a backroom role in politics as well as in the 1990s civil war.
But in 2016, Bouteflika removed it from the supervision of the defense ministry and placed it under the authority of the presidency to try to ease it out of the political sphere.
Protesters want to remove any traces of the old guard and introduce sweeping democratic reforms. But no clear successor to Bouteflika has yet emerged and Algeria's opposition is fragmented.
