Thousands rally in Algeria to protest upcoming presidential polls
Thousands of Algerian protesters gathered in their capital Algiers on Friday in what could be a last large-scale attempt to pressure the country's authorities to cancel the December 12 presidential elections.
Anti-government rallies have been held every Friday and Tuesday since mid-February – and the protests forced long-time ruler Abdelaziz Bouteflika to resign in April. Since then, demonstrators have been demanding for key Bouteflika-era officials to depart and for an overhaul of the country's political system, before a presidential election is held.
"It is either us or the remnant of Bouteflika's regime clinging to power and we believe that the people will prevail in the end," Islam Abrous, a 23-year-old protester, told journalists.
Protesters were shouting "the people want independence" and "the people want to overthrow the regime."
It marks the 42nd consecutive Friday that demonstrators took to the streets demanding political change.
In central Algiers, one protester was seen carrying a banner reading "Freedom against dictatorship," while another held a red placard with "No, I will not vote" written on it.
Protesters have also gathered in other areas in Algeria including Tizi Ouzou and the port city of Bejaia. Both are located east of Algiers.
Authorities have defended plans to hold the election on December 12, saying it is necessary to end the long-running stand-off in the country. Five contenders are vying to replace Bouteflika, who has ruled energy-rich Algeria for two decades.
The protests, known as the "Hirak" movement, are calling for the removal of officials including interim President Abdelkader Bensalah and the country's military chief of staff, Gaid Salah.
Both officials have called on Algerians to vote en masse. Salah has distanced himself from Bouteflika and repeatedly expressed his support for the anti-corruption drive which put several of the former officials on trial.
During a visit to a military post in the western city of Oran, Salah described the December 12 election "as a crucial and important right," saying it will be "an electoral festival ... that will be a new starting point for Algeria towards development."
While reports suggested that at least two of the candidates are supported by the military, observers say that all hopefuls will work closely with Salah and the army. Meanwhile, rights groups have warned of an escalating crackdown against protesters as the elections loom, arresting hundreds of activists.
"The crackdown on protesters casts a long shadow on whether the Algerian authorities are prepared to accept everyone's basic rights to speak out," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch.