Algeria premier urges calm ahead of key anti-Bouteflika demonstrations

ALGIERS — Algeria's new prime minister sought to calm tensions Thursday ahead of planned demonstrations that could be decisive for the protest movement calling for President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to step down.

Noureddine Bedoui spoke on the eve of the first Friday rallies since Bouteflika's surprise announcement earlier this week that he would not seek reelection but was cancelling April polls.

The new premier warned that the situation in the North African country was "sensitive".

People "must show calm and act peacefully", Bedoui said, calling for "dialogue" to resolve the situation.

Bouteflika, 82, initially sparked joy among protesters when he said he would not stand for a fifth term in next month's election, but his move to cancel the vote prompted accusations of "tricks" and sparked a new round of demonstrations.

Friday's protests will be a key test of whether the ailing president's manoeuvre has dampened anger on the streets.

An Algiers derby between the capital's rival football clubs, USM Alger and MC Alger, was brought forward a day to Thursday to avoid incidents during the demonstrations.

Several supporters groups called for a boycott of the rescheduled match fearing potential trouble. 

Bouteflika also said he was replacing unpopular premier Ahmed Ouyahia with former interior minister Bedoui, who on Thursday defended the postponement of the poll, seen by many as unconstitutional. 

“There is nothing above the will of the people,” he said.

‘Heard the message’ 

The protest movement has been led by students, in a country where half the population is under the age of 30 and youth unemployment has spurred anger against a government seen as out of touch.

Bedoui vowed to create an administration of technocrats, including young men and women.

“We have heard the message of the Algerian youth,” he said, adding that the new government would be revealed by next week at the latest.

Bouteflika has promised a “national conference” to carry out reforms and set a date for new elections “before the end of 2019”, suggesting he may stay in office for another year.

Incoming Deputy Prime Minister Ramtane Lamamra, who appeared alongside Bedoui at a news conference in Algiers, told state radio the previous evening that the conference should happen “as soon as possible”.

“The absolute priority is to reunite the Algerians and allow them to go together towards a better future,” he said.

“It’s not about staying in power for a few weeks or a few months more.”

Lakhdar Brahimi, a veteran diplomat and former UN envoy for Syria, on Wednesday denied having been appointed as head of the proposed conference.

“I cannot say no [if asked to serve] but I would prefer if they find a man or a woman better than me” for the job, he said in remarks on state television.

Brahimi drew attention after he paid a visit on Monday to Bouteflika following the president’s return from Switzerland where he spent two weeks at a hospital for medical checks.

He said that Bouteflika, who uses a wheelchair and has rarely appeared in public since suffering a stroke in 2013, has a weak voice but “has regained 100 per cent his intellectual faculties.”