Last Updated on April 9, 2019, 5:01 PM AST by Anthony Morris
Algerian police have used water cannon against protesters demonstrating against Abdelkader Bensalah’s appointment as interim president.
Mr Bensalah, the speaker of parliament’s upper house, succeeds President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who resigned last week following weeks of peaceful demonstrations.
But many want more radical change.
Mr Bensalah, who will be in power until a presidential election, pledged to work in the interests of the people.
“I need everyone during this period in our country to apply the constitution strictly, to work hard, faithfully and with dedication in order to return as soon as possible the word to the people,” he told members of parliament after he was appointed.
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He is due to be in office for 90 days.
As soon as the appointment of Mr Bensalah was announced, protesters took to the streets of the capital, Algiers, demanding “Bensalah go”.
The 77-year-old is seen as being very close to the ailing former president, who had been in power for 20 years.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
