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| Abdelaziz Bouteflika: Algeria's president resigns amid mass protests | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika is resigning after weeks of mass protests, state media report. | Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika is resigning after weeks of mass protests, state media report. |
| Mr Bouteflika, who has been in power for 20 years, had already dropped plans to seek a fifth term as opposition to his rule grew. | |
| The powerful Algerian army had called for the 82-year-old to be declared incapable of carrying out his duties. | The powerful Algerian army had called for the 82-year-old to be declared incapable of carrying out his duties. |
| The ailing leader suffered a stroke six years ago and has rarely appeared in public since. | The ailing leader suffered a stroke six years ago and has rarely appeared in public since. |
| Car horns could be heard in the streets of the capital, Algiers, as hundreds celebrated the announcement. | |
| People waved Algeria's national flags and sang. | |
| One man, Selmaoui Seddik, told Reuters: "God willing, we will have a 100% democratic transition, this is very important. We need to remove the whole previous regime and that is the hardest thing." | |
| One protest leader, Mustapha Bouchachi, said before the announcement that any decision by Mr Bouteflika to quit would still change nothing and that the protests would continue. | |
| News of the resignation came in a statement carried on state news agency APS. | |
| "The president of the republic, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, has officially notified the president of the constitutional council of his decision to end his mandate as president of the republic," it said. | "The president of the republic, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, has officially notified the president of the constitutional council of his decision to end his mandate as president of the republic," it said. |
| State TV then reported that this would be with immediate effect. | State TV then reported that this would be with immediate effect. |
| According to the constitution, the Senate speaker should take over as interim head of state until fresh elections are held. | |
| How did it come about? | How did it come about? |
| Pressure had been building since February, when the first demonstrations were sparked by Mr Bouteflika's announcement that he would be standing for a fifth term. | Pressure had been building since February, when the first demonstrations were sparked by Mr Bouteflika's announcement that he would be standing for a fifth term. |
| Tens of thousands protested across the country on 1 March. Mr Bouteflika's promise not to serve out a fifth term if re-elected, along with a change of prime minister, failed to quell the discontent. | Tens of thousands protested across the country on 1 March. Mr Bouteflika's promise not to serve out a fifth term if re-elected, along with a change of prime minister, failed to quell the discontent. |
| Leaders of the protests also rejected Mr Bouteflika's offer this week that he would go by the end of his current term - 28 April - as not quick enough. | Leaders of the protests also rejected Mr Bouteflika's offer this week that he would go by the end of his current term - 28 April - as not quick enough. |
| It seems the powerful military agreed. Its chief, Lt Gen Ahmed Gaed Salah, said earlier on Tuesday: "There is no more room to waste time." | It seems the powerful military agreed. Its chief, Lt Gen Ahmed Gaed Salah, said earlier on Tuesday: "There is no more room to waste time." |
| What next? | |
| The demonstrations have also called for the whole political system, in which the military plays a significant role, to be overhauled. | The demonstrations have also called for the whole political system, in which the military plays a significant role, to be overhauled. |
| Many of the protesters are young and say they want a new system of government. | Many of the protesters are young and say they want a new system of government. |
| There were accusations that Mr Bouteflika was being used as a front by "le pouvoir" - a group of businessmen, politicians and military officials - to retain their power. | There were accusations that Mr Bouteflika was being used as a front by "le pouvoir" - a group of businessmen, politicians and military officials - to retain their power. |
| Elections originally scheduled for 18 April were postponed and the governing National Liberation Front (FLN) vowed to organise a national conference on reforms. | Elections originally scheduled for 18 April were postponed and the governing National Liberation Front (FLN) vowed to organise a national conference on reforms. |
| The FLN has ruled Algeria since the country won independence from France in 1962 after seven years of conflict. | The FLN has ruled Algeria since the country won independence from France in 1962 after seven years of conflict. |
| Mr Bouteflika, who came to power in 1999, strengthened his grip after a bloody civil war against Islamist insurgents which left 150,000 dead. | Mr Bouteflika, who came to power in 1999, strengthened his grip after a bloody civil war against Islamist insurgents which left 150,000 dead. |
| The chairman of the upper house of parliament, Abdelkader Bensalah, is expected to become caretaker president for three months until elections. | The chairman of the upper house of parliament, Abdelkader Bensalah, is expected to become caretaker president for three months until elections. |