State TV later showed a frail-looking Bouteflika, dressed in a traditional winter robe, handing his resignation letter to the head of a constitutional council.
ALGIERS - Algeria’s ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika resigned on Tuesday, succumbing to six weeks of largely peaceful mass protests driven by youth and pressure from the powerful army against his 20-year rule.
“I have taken this step because I am keen to put an end to the current bickering,” Bouteflika said in a letter released on state media, using his main means of communication since suffering a stroke in 2013 and largely disappearing from public view. The lineup included respected technocrats but was headed by Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui, who the opposition said was too close to the ruling elite dominated by business tycoons and veteran fighters of the 1954-62 independence war with France.
But only around one person was confirmed to have died during the protests, a man believed to be around 60 years old who suffered a heart attack, with most rallies peaceful and protesters cleaning up the streets before going home.CHANGES
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Algerian leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika quits after mass protestsAlgerians celebrate after the ailing 82-year-old leader steps down
Read more »
Algerians demand 'radical' change despite Bouteflika's vow to quitThe ailing 82-year-old Bouteflika has been clinging to power despite weeks of protests that first erupted in February when he said we would seek a fifth term in power.
Read more »
Former Algerian president’s son killed in anti-government protestsAccording to the local media, Hassan Benkhedda died in a stampede as protesters fled the security forces.
Read more »
Newsdeck: Algeria’s Bouteflika Resigns, Bowing to Weeks of ProtestAlgerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has resigned, bowing to weeks of mass protests and growing pressure from the country’s powerful military to end his 20-year rule.
Read more »
Million protest against Algeria's BouteflikaThe huge turnout came days after the military called for the long-serving leader’s removal to end a growing political crisis.
Read more »
Algeria's Bouteflika to resign 'before mandate ends'Algeria’s ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika will resign before his mandate expires on April 28, his office said, after a succession of loyalists deserted him in the face of massive protests.
Read more »
Algeria's Bouteflika to resign before mandate endsThe 82-year-old would resign 'before 28 April 2019,' after 'important decisions' were taken, it added, without specifying when these moves would occur.
Read more »
Sir Lowry’s Pass Village residents end protest as CoCT promises to build housesResidents have been keeping up a sustained action since last week blocking roads and burning debris to make their anger felt.
Read more »
NC rapist gets life imprisonment, accomplice gets 20 yearsThe incident occurred in August 2016, when the two men attacked a woman while she was walking home from a tavern.
Read more »
Algerian president poised to quit this week, say private TV channelsMass protests spur army chief of staff to urge constitutional council to declare Abdelaziz Bouteflika unfit to rule
Read more »