Police in Algiers fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of demonstrators on a third straight day of protests against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's plan to run for a fifth term after six years of his near total absence from public life. On Friday thousands took to the streets in the capital and other Algerian cities calling on Bouteflika, 81, to abandon his bid to stand in presidential election scheduled to be held on April 18. Bouteflika, in office since 1999, has been seen in public only a handful of times since suffering a stroke in 2013. "People do not want Bouteflika," the crowd chanted at a protest called by an opposition group. Since the ruling FLN party picked Bouteflika as its presidential candidate, several political parties, trade unions and business organizations have already said they would back him, and he is expected to win easily as the opposition remains weak and divided. Strikes and protests over social and economic grievances are frequent in Algeria, but are generally localized and do not touch on national politics. More than a quarter of Algerians under 30 are unemployed, according to official figures, and many feel disconnected from a ruling elite made up of veteran fighters from Algeria's 1954-1962 independence war with France. Security forces arrested more than 40 people after that protest, which saw police fire tear gas to block a march on the presidential palace, prompting demonstrators to respond with stone-throwing. Sunday's rally came in response to calls posted by anonymous users on social media. It began when a group of 50 people gathered at the Place Audin in the center of Algiers. Security forces, deployed since the early hours of the morning and backed by a police helicopter, evacuated the central square, prompting the demonstrators to head elsewhere. Joined by hundreds others they rallied along Didouche Mourad, a main shopping street which was closed to traffic and blocked by police, chanting "Algeria, free and democratic". The president's office has announced that Bouteflika will travel to Switzerland on Sunday for "routine medical checks." He has had a long battle with illness and has frequently flown to France for treatment. — Agencies
