Algerians Set for ‘Joyful’ Protests after Bouteflika Quit

By Staff, Agencies

Algerians were preparing Friday for the first mass protests since the resignation of ailing president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, in a key test of whether the momentum for reform can be maintained.

Activists took to social media calling for "joyful demonstrations" to "peacefully bring down the regime.

Opponents of the old regime have called for a massive turnout, targeting a triumvirate they dub the "3B" -- Abdelakder Bensalah, Tayeb Belaiz and Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui.

The veteran Bouteflika loyalists have been entrusted with overseeing the political transition after the veteran leader finally stepped down at the age of 82.

Bouteflika resigned late on Tuesday after weeks of demonstrations triggered by his bid for a fifth term in office. He had lost the backing of key supporters including armed forces Chief Ahmed Gaid Salah.

Bensalah, speaker of the upper house of parliament for 16 years, is to take the reins as interim president for three months until elections are organized.

Belaiz, a minister for 16 years, was named by Bouteflika as head of the Constitutional Council which will regulate the elections.

Before his appointment as prime minister, Bedoui had served as interior minister -- or, as the French-language El Watan newspaper put it on Thursday, "chief engineer of electoral fraud".

Opponents say all three are tarnished by their long years of service under Bouteflika and should follow his lead and resign.