“After the past week of protests in Algeria against president Abdelaziz Bouteflika sets up for a fifth term – is the country’s prime minister Ahmed Ouyahia in defence.”
“the Algerians are free to choose what they want in the election in april, he stresses in a speech broadcast on tv.”
“– Everyone has the right to support their candidate and to be received, which candidates they want to. The polls will decide it in a peaceful and civilised manner, ” said Ouyahia, who also suggests that the protests are controlled by other interests.”
“Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who led an authoritarian rule since he came to power in 1999, announced his candidacy in February. 81-year-old sitting in a wheelchair and has barely been seen in public after he suffered a stroke five years ago. Opponents see it as his advisers running the country behind the scenes.”
“Thousands of people have protested in Algeria’s largest cities in recent days and police have repeatedly fired tear gas against the crowds. Protests are rare when the long-prevailing prohibition of such in the country.”
