CENTRAL NEWS
Thousands of students and teachers in the capital Algeria marched against the presidential elections for July 4. The action was taken in front of the government building where the police prevented the gathering of students in front of the Great Post Office, which was the main address of previous actions.
Short-term clashes took place with the police in front of a building where the services of the Prime Ministry and the Ministry of Interior were provided: where police used physical violence and gas against the activists. The students later continued their marches to the city.
During the march, there were often slogans in the form of: “No elections with mafia gangs. We want a civillian state”. Activists targeted de facto management of the country and Chief of Staff Ahmed Gaid Salih with their slogans. In the action, the slogans “Gaid Salih Get Lost” and “the People and army are brothers, but Gaid Salih is with betrayers” were heard.
After months of protest actions Abdulaziz Buteflika, who had been in power for 20 years, had to resign on 2 April. With this resignation, Gaid Salih took the ropes. In a statement on Monday, he again rejected the basic demands of the popular movement.
The Chief of Staff had demanded that the elections be held on July 4, while the request for the departure of those who were part of the ruling system had been described as “illogical” and “dangerous”.
Protesters who want to change the system in a fundamental way refuse to go to elections. According to the Algerian media, students went to the streets in cities such as Oran, Constantine, Bejaia, Tizi Uzu, Buira, Sisi Bel Abes, Monstaganem and Tlemcem.
