Police breaks up Algiers protests against Bouteflika’s re-election bid, 50 arrests…

Security forces on Thursday arrested about 50 people protesting in central Algiers against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika standing for a fourth term in next April 17 presidential elections in Algeria.

Public demonstrations in Algeria remain banned, despite a state of emergency being lifted in 2011, and a similar protest last week was also scattered by security forces.

“Long live Algeria!” and “Free and democratic Algeria!” protesters chanted before police intervened forcefully to disperse them.

Demonstrators bundled into vans by security forces continued their protest by banging on the sides of the vehicles.

“Fifty-two years — Barakat!” (That’s enough!) cried one woman referring to 52 years of independence under the same ageing political management.

Barakat, a new movement that opposes a fourth Bouteflika candidacy, was formed by gynaecologist Amina Bouraoui, who was arrested along with several journalists.

 Soufiane Djilali a liberal presidential candidate who threw in the towel last week after Bouteflika said he would stand again, expressed his disgust to newsmen.

The current nefarious political equation must change,” Sofiane Djilali said.

The 77-year-old Bouteflika, who has been in power for 15 years, suffered a mini-stroke in April 2013.

He made a rare public appearance on Monday to submit the papers for his own candidacy for the April 17 presidential election at the constitutional council premises in upper Algiers.

He also confirmed his candidacy on television, the first time he has spoken in public since returning from hospital treatment in Paris in July last year.

Citing fraud, dozens of opposition candidates have dropped out of the electoral race.

Former Prime Minister Ahmed Benbitour withdrew his candidacy, saying the vote would be “piracy with legal backing,” while retired general Mohand Tahar Yala said he pulled out because the polls have been “rigged” to secure Bouteflika’s fourth mandate.

But former Prime Minister Ali Benflis, who is seen as Bouteflika’s main rival in the vote, submitted his dossier on Tuesday morning, ahead of a midnight deadline.

“I decided to participate, although I understand the motivations and preoccupations of those who are calling for a boycott, and of those who have decided against playing an active role in the politics of our country because they are outraged by the attitudes of scorn, arrogance…,” Benflis said in a statement.

Benflis, who is one of six candidates along with Bouteflika to have registered for the race, insisted that “the credibility of the election lies in a strong, effective and transparent vote.”

Around 100 candidates are estimated to have pulled out of the race while protests against Bouteflika’s reelection have taken place nationwide at the behest of a movement called Barakat (Enough).

But analysts believe that Bouteflika will maintain his grip over Algeria in a fourth term.

“He submits his candidacy. He is elected. The administration works for him,” said a political analyst.

For a year the government has campaigned on his behalf, saying “Bouteflika represents stability,” he added.

“This is the only message that can have an impact on voters, he further surmised.”