President Abdelaziz Bouteflika
Ailing Algerian President Bouteflika bows to pressure, reigns
Algerian President Bouteflika has resigned, bowing to mass protest, Algeria’s state news agency APS reported on Monday.
He will give up his office before his designated end-of-term date on April 28.
The decision came after hundreds of people demonstrated in Algiers against Bouteflika’s new government.
Protesters carried slogans describing the new cabinet as “a blow to the people’s demands.”
Mr Bouteflika, who has faced mass protest against his rule for over a month, had maintained his position as defence minister in the caretaker government that was revealed on Sunday.
The government, headed by Noureddine Bedoui, composed of 27 ministers, including six members of the former cabinet.
Mr Bouteflika kept as military chief of staff the powerful General Gaid Saleh, who earlier this week called for the president to be declared unfit for office on health grounds.
Media report says Bouteflika’s resignation means there will now be a transitional phase.
The opposition Labour Party had described the new cabinet as a new face for an old government.
“It is unclear on what basis these figures were chosen,” the party said in a statement.
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