Algeria Police Disperse Demo against Bouteflika Reelection Bid

Algerian police Saturday dispersed a demonstration in the capital against ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika seeking a fourth term in office in April elections.

Bouteflika, who has been in power since 1999 and turns 77 on Sunday, announced a week ago he would seek reelection in an April 17 vote, after speculation his frail health would stop him from running.

A group opposed to a fourth term for Bouteflika had called for the demonstration online, and those taking part on Saturday included journalists and rights activists.

Protesters chanted "no to a fourth term" and "15 years is enough", an Agence France Presse journalist at the scene said.

There has been growing concern about Bouteflika serving another term, given the physical state of the president, who was hospitalized in Paris for three months last year after suffering a mini stroke.

He has chaired just two cabinet meetings since returning home in July, and has not spoken in public for nearly two years.

Former Algerian premier Mouloud Hamrouche Thursday called for a "peaceful" change of the regime, which he said was no longer capable of running the country.

And Said Sadi, former head of the secular opposition Rally for Culture and Democracy Party, also spoke out against Bouteflika on Tuesday.

He urged Algerians to "delegitimize" the upcoming elections, urging a political transition similar to the one that took place last month in Tunisia.