Government of Algeria

Algeria's parliament appointed on April 9 its upper house chairman Abdelkader Bensalah as interim president following the resignation of Abdelaziz Bouteflika after weeks of mass protests against his rule.

Crowds of mainly young protesters faced off with riot police in Algiers until early on March 4 after Bouteflika's campaign manager formalized the longtime leader's candidacy for a fifth term in the April 18 election. Demonstrations were also held in other cities.