According to media sources in Algeria, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika is preparing to announce his resignation in accordance with article 102 of the constitution. Under the article, a constitutional council can declare Bouteflika unfit for office or he can resign himself.
Bouteflika had on March 11 while attempting to calm the demonstrations promised to rescind on his plans for a fifth term. But his decision to wait for a national conference on political change further infuriated the protesters.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, the government named a 27-man caretaker cabinet headed by serving Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui. Mohamed Loukal, Central Bank Governor was named as Finance Minister, Sabri Boukadoum, a former envoy to the United Nations, becomes foreign minister while the former head of the state power and gas utility, Mohamed Arkab, is the energy minister.
However, demonstrators have rejected military intervention in civilian matters and insist on bringing down the entire government. Thousands of Algerians have taken to the streets of Algiers for more than a month, seeking for Bouteflika to quit.
