Algerian police used tear gas and water cannon on Friday to try to disperse hundreds of thousands of demonstrators demanding the resignation of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika days after the army called for his removal to end weeks of political crisis.
The protests, which erupted on Feb. 22, have been largely peaceful but have put pressure on the military to stabilize the North African country, a major oil and gas producer which cooperates with the West in fighting terrorism.
Police opened fire with tear gas after youths hurled stones at them, a Reuters witness said.
Some demonstrators called for the entire political elite to go, saying that while they were against Bouteflika they also rejected the army’s intervention in civilian political life.
