President Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria has on Tuesday resigned from office. The ailing President submitted his resignation with immediate effect, relinquishing power in the face of prolong massive street protests. The sudden resignation came in the wake of the demand by the country’s powerful army chief of staff that Bouteflika is declared sick and leaves office immediately.
“We believe there is no more time to waste” on starting a constitutional process to declare Bouteflika unfit for office, said a statement released by Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaed Salah. Our decision is clear and irrevocable. We will support the people until their demands are fully and completely satisfied,”
Bouteflika had promised to resign before 28 April when his term expires. But the impatient military demanded the immediate launch of impeachment proceedings against him.
