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Algerian police tried, unsuccessfully, to disperse the protesters gathered for Friday's first protest since the announcement of the presidential election to replace deposed leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
There was no violence as the riot police, wearing helmets and shields, tried to clean the main protest site outside the main post office of the center. d & # 39; Algiers.
Dozens of police officers, during their first such operation on the site, were surrounded by hundreds of protesters, protesting against the regime's alleged maneuvers to stay in power.
The crowd, shouting "silmiya, silmiya" (peaceful, peaceful), cleared the way for the police to clear as protesters urged police to join the protest.
"We think that there are tensions this Friday, there are a lot of police," said 36-year-old Karima Bourenane, who introduced herself with her daughter. "I hope the demonstration will remain peaceful."
Social media led to mbad protests that led to the end of Bouteflika's reign, which lasted two decades. They were summoned for an eighth consecutive Friday of demonstrations, this time under the slogan "They will all leave".
"Transparent" polls
The presidential elections will be held on July 4, the office of Acting Head of Government Abdelkader Bensalah announced on Wednesday, just hours after the promise of "transparent" elections.
The new date was set one day after Bensalah took office, for a period of 90 days, as stipulated by the constitution but to the great wrath of the protesters.
The appointment of the upper house president, Bensalah, as the first new Algerian president in 20 years has not allowed to meet the demands of protesters.
Although 77-year-old Bensalah is barred by the Constitution from running in the upcoming elections, the protesters demanded that Bouteflika's close ally withdraws.
Students and magistrates have called for the resumption of rallies and marches in the capital and in other cities of the country of North Africa.
For the first time since the launch of the anti-Bouteflika protest movement in mid-February, vehicles and police forces tried to block access to the post office.
But the young protesters were not discouraged.
"We will be many, many, they do not know what to expect, they will not be able to do anything against us," said 23-year-old Ybadine.
For Mahrez Bouich, professor of philosophy at the University of Bejaia, East of Algiers: "The election of July 4 has already been rejected by the people, which also refuses the appointment of Bensalah ".
The protesters argue that elections can not be free and fair if they take place in the same judicial framework and with the same institutions as those of the Bouteflika regime.
The head of the army, General Ahmed Gaid Salah, who played a decisive role in the departure of Bouteflika, also expressed his dissatisfaction. He then supported the acting leader, considered part of the old regime.
But the general stood up for the defense of Algerian institutions and warned against the "unrealistic slogans" of protesters aimed at sweeping the entire system to power.
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