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Algeria protest: Abdelkader Bensalah named interim president Algeria protests: Police use water cannon to disperse demonstrators
(about 3 hours later)
Algeria's parliament has appointed the speaker of its upper house, Abdelkader Bensalah, to succeed former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika as the country's interim leader. Algerian police have used water cannon against protesters demonstrating against Abdelkader Bensalah's appointment as interim president.
Mr Bouteflika, in power for 20 years, resigned last week following a series of huge anti-government protests. Mr Bensalah, the speaker of parliament's upper house, succeeds President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who resigned last week following weeks of peaceful demonstrations.
Mr Bensalah will lead the country during a transition period in the run-up to a presidential election. But many want more radical change.
But many protesters, seeking more radical change, do not back him. Mr Bensalah, who will be in power until a presidential election, pledged to work in the interests of the people.
"I want to work towards fulfilling the interests of the people," AFP news agency quotes the new interim president as telling parliament. "I need everyone during this period in our country to apply the constitution strictly, to work hard, faithfully and with dedication in order to return as soon as possible the word to the people," he told members of parliament after he was appointed.
"It's a great responsibility that the constitution demands of me."
He is due to be in office for 90 days.He is due to be in office for 90 days.
As soon as the appointment of Mr Bensalah was announced, protesters took to the streets demanding "Bensalah go". As soon as the appointment of Mr Bensalah was announced, protesters took to the streets of the capital, Algiers, demanding "Bensalah go".
From the start of the protests in February, the demonstrators have not just been focusing on the ailing Mr Bouteflika, Algeria analyst James McDougall told the BBC. The 77-year-old is seen as being very close to the ailing former president, who had been in power for 20 years.
From the start of the protests in February, the demonstrators have not just been focusing on Mr Bouteflika, Algeria analyst James McDougall told the BBC.
Placards and online posts have been demanding an end to the "system", or "Le Pouvoir", meaning that all those around the former president should also go.Placards and online posts have been demanding an end to the "system", or "Le Pouvoir", meaning that all those around the former president should also go.
The allegation was that Mr Bouteflika was used as a front for a group of businessmen, politicians and military officials, who are said to really run the country.The allegation was that Mr Bouteflika was used as a front for a group of businessmen, politicians and military officials, who are said to really run the country.
The protests have been peaceful and the security forces have not used heavy-handed tactics to break them up.