Algeria’s parliament has named an interim leader to replace former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who resigned last week under pressure from a pro-democracy protest movement that won the army’s backing.
The parliament on Tuesday named Abdelkader Bensalah, the leader of parliament’s upper chamber, as president for a maximum 90 days as is called for by the constitution until a new election can be organized. Bensalah was a key ally of Bouteflika.
Most of the country’s opposition abstained from the vote on Tuesday. Algerian students again protested in the capital, Algiers. An array of protesters has called for the ouster of the country’s entire political hierarchy.
Algeria’s powerful army chief was due to speak later in the day.
