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Algerians march for new departures

Hundreds of thousands of protesters whose pro-democracy movement forced out longtime President Abdelaziz Bouteflika sang and celebrated their win Friday demanding that other top figures leave too.

The demonstrators are pushing for the removal of what they see as an outdated and opaque political apparatus, built around the ruling party, army officers, businessmen, unions and veterans of a 1954-62 independence war against France.

“We want a new generation to govern this wealthy country and to secure a better future for the people,” said 80-year-old woman Yamina, standing with her five grandchildren as crowds jammed downtown streets.

“We want to uproot the symbols of the system,” said teacher Ahmed Badili, as hundreds of people waved national flags from the balconies of buildings. Others handed out sweets and bottled water. The military said it was acting in the national interest after weeks of largely peaceful anti-government demonstrations.

Western powers are eager for stability in the OPEC oil producer, Africa’s largest country by land mass and a key gas supplier for Europe and partner to fight militants.

Bouteflika’s departure has not eased tensions despite the appointment of a caretaker government which will stay in office until elections in three months’ time.

This Friday, protesters pushed for the removal of Prime Minister Nouredine Bedoui, upper house of Parliament chairman Abdel-kader Bensalah, and Tayeb Belaiz, head of the constitutional council all seen as establishment figures. Many banners read “3B’s must go.”

It’s unclear what would happen if “the three Bs” were really to leave. The movement hasn’t coalesced around a single alternative candidate or plan to govern Algeria.

In the weeks before his resignation, Bouteflika’s inner circle had already been depleted by the exit of several close allies from influential positions in politics and business.

The head of Algeria’s intelligence service, Athmane Tartag, quietly submitted his resignation after Bouteflika’s departure, a security official told the Associated Press. The official was not authorized to be publicly named. Algerian news reports said the intelligence service, DSS, will now report to the Defense Ministry instead of the president’s office, a move that appears to strengthen the army’s hand.

The intelligence service has in the past been an important part of the military’s influence in national affairs, and played a backroom role in politics as well as in the ’90s civil war.

But in 2016, Bouteflika removed it from the supervision of the Defense Ministry and placed it under the authority of the presidency to try to ease it out of the political sphere.

Protesters want to remove any traces of the old guard and introduce sweeping democratic reforms. But no clear successor to Bouteflika has yet emerged and Algeria’s opposition is fragmented.

The uncertainty means the army is likely to continue playing its role as kingmaker with little resistance, guiding the sensitive transition process.

Unlike in past protests, when some Algerians said the army should not interfere in civilian matters, there were signs of support for the military in the latest demonstration. Some banners said “the people and the army are brothers.”

Some protesters saw humor in Algeria’s crisis: “Any country interested in toppling its system, we are ready to help. Please send a copy of the constitution. You also need an appointment and we only work on Friday,” a banner read.

Agencies
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