Hundreds of Algerian lawyers took to the streets of the capital Algiers on Thursday to rally against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s run for a fifth term in office.
“The people want to overthrow the regime”, shouted lawyers, who protested in front of the constitutional council building. “Republic, not a kingdom,” others chanted.
Security forces were deployed to monitor the demonstration but as with previous protests, they did not intervene.
Tens of thousands of Algerians, tired of the dominance of elderly veterans of the 1954-1962 war of independence against France, have taken to the streets to urge the ailing president not to stand in an election scheduled for April 18. He has submitted his candidacy papers.
He has not spoken in public since suffering a stroke in 2013 and remains in a hospital in Geneva.
One lawyer said that Bouteflika was no longer able to carry out his duties, starting with his inability to submit his candidacy paper himself.
“Isn’t his presence in a Geneva hospital for 12 days enough evidence to reject his nomination?” he asked.
Bouteflika’s campaign director, however, offered an upbeat assessment, saying there was "nothing to worry about."
"The recent information saying President Bouteflika's heath has deteriorated is without foundation and the health tests will soon be finished," said Abdelghani Zaalane.
The national association of lawyers has demanded that the authorities postpone the election and set up a transitional government.
On Wednesday, the influential Algerian war veterans association expressed support for the so far peaceful protests.
Two branches of powerful Algerian labor union UGTA, representing tens of thousands of workers, also opposed the re-election plan.
Some officials from Bouteflika’s ruling FLN party have turned up at demonstrations. Several public figures have announced their resignations in a country where personnel changes normally take place behind closed doors.
Later on Thursday, Bouteflika issued his first warning to protesters, saying the unrest could destabilize the country.
In a letter reported by the state news agency APS, he said: “Breaking this peaceful expression by any treacherous internal or foreign group may lead to sedition and chaos and resulting crises and woes.”
He did not say who any of these groups might be.
“We need to preserve the continuity to allow the authorities and people to maintain the battle of construction in order to achieve more progress,” said the president.
