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Africa

The Latest: Algerian police fire water cannon at protesters

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    People chant slogans and wave flags during a demonstration in Algiers, Algeria, Wednesday, April 10, 2019. The Algerian senator Abdelkader Bensalah named to temporarily fill the office vacated by former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika said he would act quickly to arrange an "honest and transparent" election to usher in an "Algeria of the future." (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

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    Female protesters wrapped in Algerian flags walk past during a demonstration in Algiers, Algeria, Wednesday, April 10, 2019. The Algerian senator Abdelkader Bensalah named to temporarily fill the office vacated by former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika said he would act quickly to arrange an "honest and transparent" election to usher in an "Algeria of the future." (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

ALGIERS, Algeria – The Latest on the protests in Algeria (all times local):

1:55 p.m.

Algerian police are firing water cannon at protesters in the capital as tensions mount on the eighth week of protests against the country's leadership.

The protest movement has been overwhelmingly peaceful but police were out in larger than usual numbers Friday.

Reporters from The Associated Press saw police spraying water repeatedly on a huge crowd on Didouche Mourad Street in Algiers, on the route toward the central post office that has become a symbol of the movement.

It was unclear whether something prompted the police to act.

The street was packed with protesters waving Algerian flags. Protesters shouted "Authorities - Assassins!" and surrounded the water cannon truck, with some appearing to hit it.

The protesters pushed out longtime President Abdelaziz Bouteflika last week but now want other top officials to step down too.

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10:05 a.m.

Police are deployed around Algeria's capital to deter protesters arriving for an eighth straight Friday of demonstrations against the country's leadership.

Protest organizers are encouraging Algerians to come out in Algiers or other cities to show that they're not satisfied with the departure of longtime President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, and want wholesale political change.

Anger is mounting over military chief Gen. Ahmed Gaid Salah, who was instrumental in Bouteflika's departure but then threw his support behind interim President Abdelkader Bensalah, seen as part of the old regime.

Bensalah was named interim president this week and announced new elections for July 4. Protest appeals online call for both Bensalah and the military chief to step down.

Police are lining plazas and checking all vehicles entering Algiers.