International Media Cover Algeria “Million Man” Protests Against Bouteflika’s Bid For 5th Term
International media has shown great interest in Friday demonstrations by millions of Algerians against rejecting Bouteflika’s intention to run for a fifth term, and large TV channels and News Agencies were in the heart of protests to report the historical and exclusive moments.
Reuters reported that Algerian police fired tear gas to disperse thousands of protesters in the capital Algiers, and quoted demonstraters as saying that “Algerian police on Friday fired tear gas to disperse thousands of protesters in the capital who are protesting against President Bouteflika’s intention to run for a fifth term in April elections to extend his rule that began 20 years ago.
According to its telegram, “People said crowd numbers were increasing rapidly as tens of thousands of people marched through central Algiers within one hour of the protest.”
UK’s BBC published large pictures of Algerian protesters and entitled its article; “Thousands denounce president’s bid for the fifth term”, with the subtitle “Djamila Bouhired joins the protesters in Algeria, where prominent political figures announced that they would come down to the street to join the protesters. Djamila Bouhired, who fought during the Algerian revolution against French colonialism in the late 20th century, joined the protests today, and the demonstrators took pictures with her and published them on social media”.
German “Deutsche Welle” website tackles the events on a number of topics, including “Mobility of Algeria”, protests are called Jumuat al-Hashim (Friday of decisiveness).
“From the moment the presidential candidate is announced for a fifth term, events are accelerating, starting from protests to negative leaks about the president and his camp, making the coming days crucial in the popular movement against the government”, the German radio channel said.
Russian channel “Russia Today” reported Algerian events directly under the title “Algeria is rising … is it the day of decisiveness”. On another subject, “Thousands marched out in Algiers on Friday, against the president’s bid for a fifth term in the upcoming elections in April”.
Russia’s “Sputnik”, which focused on the presence of Djamila Bouhired said: “Algeria … The enthusiasm of the demonstrators ignited the arrival of Djamila Bouhired and widespread security”.
From the Arab world, Qatar’s “Al Jazeera” said in a topic entitled “Demonstrations Against the Fifth Term continue in Algeria and Bouhired joins the protesters.”
“Thousands of Algerians gathered in the capital on Friday to protest against President Bouteflika’s intention to extend his 20-year rule by running for a fifth term in April elections. Thousands have also gone out in other cities, including Setif, Oran, Blida, Bejaia, Ghardaia and Annaba.”
Saudi Al-Arabiya TV channel reported that “Algerians demonstrated in several cities in the country on Friday, rejecting Bouteflika’s bid for a new term. The demonstrators were able to bypass the ban and walk from the central post office and the central university in Algiers to Audin Square and Didouche Mourad amidst security reinforcements
