Algeria’s ruling party supports protesters

Bloomberg

Algeria’s ruling party on Wednesday voiced support for protesters demanding the country’s embattled president step down, in the latest signal of growing rifts within the ruling powers.
In comments carried by
Algerian television, National Liberation Front chief Moued Bouchareb said Abdelaziz Bouteflika “understood the popular protests and its
demands.” A statement issued by the party’s brass after a testy meeting, however, stopped short of withdrawing its backing for the ailing 82-year-old leader who remains determined to stay on to steer the country’s transition.
It urged Algerians to “stand united, alert and mobilised during this sensitive phase in the history of our country.”
With the announcement, the FLN, which is known by its French acronym, became the latest in a growing list of parties, officials, unions and other groups wary of appearing deaf to the chorus of outrage that has gripped the nation almost a month ago.
While Bouteflika has abandoned his bid for a fifth term in office, the demonstrations have continued unabated.
Looking to stem the unrest, Bouteflika announced he wouldn’t run again, and instead would merely shepherd the country through a transition to be determined by a national council. The country’s newly-appointed deputy prime minister, Ramatane Lamamra, said that officials hoped the transition of power could take
place “without confrontation,” Echourouk TV reported.