Algerian protesters are keeping up their campaign for radical political change despite a pledge by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to give up his candidacy for a fifth term.
The stability of Algeria is important to the security of energy supply to southern Europe, which imports significant quantities of gas and oil from the North African country.
The government announced this week, in the name of the 82-year-old Bouteflika, that an 18 April election would not be held, that he would not be a candidate in any future election, and that a constitutional convention would be held to promote “reforms”.
