Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia speaks in front of the members of the parliament in Algiers, Algeria, on Feb. 25, 2019. Algerian government on Monday reacted for the first time to the marches that were held to protest against incumbent President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to run for the fifth term. Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia urged Algerians to be "vigilant" so that they would not be used by anonymous parties to sow chaos. (Xinhua)
ALGIERS, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Algerian government on Monday reacted for the first time to the marches that were held to protest against incumbent President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to run for fifth term.
"A significant number of citizens took to the streets in several provinces of the country ... No major incidents were reported in these marches," Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia said in front of the members of the parliament.
On Friday, massive peaceful marches took place in Algeria, as demonstrators took to streets to protest against the decision of Bouteflika to seek a fifth term and called for change.
"I reiterate that the presidential election will take place in less than two months and it will be an opportunity for our people to choose freely their president," Ouyahia said.
"President Bouteflika is committed, in case of being re-elected, to organizing a national consensus conference ... which will be open to all to discuss all issues," he added.
Ouyahia urged Algerians to be "vigilant" so that they would not be used by anonymous parties to sow chaos.
Friday's marches were called up by political activists via social media platforms. Other massive marches are scheduled in the upcoming days, activists said.
On Feb. 10, Bouteflika announced that he would run in the forthcoming presidential election, due on April 18, while opposition parties urged him to quit the scene for new generation to lead the country.
Bouteflika is currently in Geneva for medical examinations, according to a presidential statement.
Bouteflika, 81-year-old, suffered a stroke in 2013, and he was re-elected in 2014 for a fourth term until 2019.
