Algeria's parliament to meet on Tuesday to elect interim president

Algeria's parliament will meet on Tuesday to elect a new interim president after long-serving leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika, yielding to military pressure and nationwide protests, resigned last week.

State news agency APS reported late on Saturday that both houses of Parliament will convene on Tuesday to confirm the vacancy of the post of the president.

Under Algeria's constitution, the parliament would elect the head of the upper house, the Council of the Nation, as interim leader for a 90-day transitional period to allow holding fresh elections.

However, house speaker Abdelkader Bensaleh does not have the support of Algeria's opposition and thousands of protesters who lead the movement against Bouteflika.

The protesters see Bensaleh, Prime Minister Nouredine Bedoui and Constitutional Council chair Tayeb Belaiz as part of Bouteflika's old system and demand they step down.

Bouteflika stepped down last Tuesday following nationwide protests against his rule and pressures from the powerful military.

He had been in power since 1999. He suffered a stroke in 2013 and has rarely been seen in public since then. His term had been due to end on April 28.    (dpa)