Algerians protest against new interim president

Algerian police have used water cannon against protesters demonstrating against Abdelkader Bensalah’s appointment as interim president.

Mr Bensalah, the speaker of parliament’s upper house, succeeds President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who resigned last week following weeks of peaceful demonstrations.

Reports say many citizens want more radical change.

Mr Bensalah, who will be in power until a presidential election has pledged to work in the interests of the people as he is due to be in office for 90 days.

As soon as the appointment of Mr Bensalah was announced, protesters took to the streets of the capital, Algiers, demanding the resignation of Mr.Bensalah.

The 77-year-old is seen as being very close to the ailing former president, who had been in power for 20 years.