INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
By Zayneb Benyoucef, news reporter Thousands of protesters have gathered throughout Algeria for the fourth week in a row as they call for
the country's president to step down.Demonstrations have taken place in the capital Algiers, Oran, Bejaia and other cities.Protesters are
accusing leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who has been in power for 20 years, of illegally trying to stay in power.Mr Bouteflika has postponed a
general election that was scheduled for 18 April, and is instead seeking to extend his fourth term in office.Image:Algerian President
Abdelaziz Bouteflika pictured in 2016The president has said he would stay on until a new constitution is adopted, meaning he is likely to
stay in power for up to another five years.The demonstrators are also seeking to unseat his inner circle."We will not hold discussions with
this system, we belong to the people and the people said 'no' to the system," Boualem Amora, one of the leaders of the education sector
unions, told reporters.Roughly 200 people attended a protest in Trafalgar Square, London, on Saturday.Image:People set off flares in the
protests in Trafalgar Square on SaturdayAlgerian families were flying the country's flag, holding banners and calling for the president to
step down.Others were seen setting off flares."Bouteflika is aware of us Algerians protesting but he isn't doing anything about it, he has
to leave," said student Mohamed Guenane, 17, draped in a national flag.He added: "If they think we are going to stop protesting then they
are wrong!"Image:A demonstrator holds an Algerian flag during a protest in ParisMr Bouteflika rarely appears in public and has not given a
public address since having a stroke in 2013.The Algerian leader, who visited Switzerland for treatment, has been losing allies since he was
struck down with the condition.The ruling party's senior leader, Hussein Khaldoun, told Al Nahar TV that Mr Bouteflika "is history now."He
also said the party - which has a majority in all elected councils - should adopt the protesters' goals.Prime minister, Noureddine Bedoui,
said he would form a temporary government of technocrats and others to work towards political change, and he urged the opposition to join in
a dialogue.A former minister who is familiar with Bouteflika's inner circle told Reuters that the president could not survive given the
pressure building against him."Game over
Bouteflika has no choice but to quit now," the former minister said on condition of anonymity.
