Thousands of demonstrators converge on Algiers for massive anti-govt rally in Algeria

Thousands of demonstrators converged on capital Algiers for a massive anti-government rally in Algeria.

The protests coincided with a national holiday in Algeria to commemorate the start of the war in 1954 that led to the independence of North African country after 132 years of French colonial rule.

Several thousand protesters gathered at the Grande Poste building in downtown Algiers. Algerian social media was flooded with calls to fill the streets of the capital today to mark the 65th anniversary of the start of the independence war and demand a new revolution.

Calls to join protests have drawn parallels



between the fight for independence launched on this day in 1954 and the current demonstrations.

Police were deployed in force, blocking protesters on an avenue near the Grande Poste and making several arrests in the morning.

Weekly demonstrations have taken place in Algiers and other parts of the country since 22nd February, forcing long-time President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to resign at the beginning of April. But demonstrations have not waned, instead turning their attention on the whole regime and amping up calls for an overhaul of the political system in place since 1962.