Hundreds of demonstrators packed the center of the Algerian capital on Friday calling on the interim president to quit a day after he called for dialogue aimed at fixing a new date for elections as soon as possible.

A vote planned for July 4 was cancelled Sunday in the face of widespread protests as demonstrators who forced the ouster of veteran president Abdelaziz Bouteflika in April continued to demand a broad political overhaul.

Algeria’s constitutional council said it was impossible to hold elections to choose a successor to Bouteflika after the only two candidates were rejected.

Interim Algerian president Abdelkader Bensalah on Thursday urged the political class and civil society to hold an “inclusive dialogue” aimed at fixing a new date for elections “as soon as possible”.

But demonstrators who flooded central Algiers for the 16th consecutive Friday continued to demand change in the North African country, chanting “we’re fed up with these rulers”.

They also called on Bensalah and army chief General Ahmed Gaid Salah — who has become the country’s power broker — to “clear off” as police deployed massively across the center of the capital.

The protesters have been staunchly against presidential polls being held as long as the ruling elite, which they accuse of having links to Bouteflika, remain in power.

“No elections with this gang in power,” crowds chanted during a massive demonstration last Friday in Algiers.

Source: AFP