PROTESTS continued in Algeria despite the country’s ruling National Liberation Front (FLN) party changing leadership a month after former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika stood down in the face of growing anger over his rule.

Businessman Mohamed Djemai replaces Mouad Bouchareb as party leader.

Mr Bouchareb stood down when Mr Bouteflika quit but protesters continue to press for the entire regime to be swept aside.

But the party’s announcement of Mr Djemai’s leadership has gone largely unnoticed with the movement focused on removing key figures associated with Mr Bouteflika from power, including interim President Abdelkader Bensalah. 

Elections are scheduled for July 4, but these have been largely condemned as a sham with calls for a boycott from opposition parties and activists. 

More than 100 judges have refused to take part in supervising the poll “in support of the demands of the people.”

Algeria has seen the largest protest movement since it won independence from France in 1962. 

Initially starting in opposition to the ailing Mr Bouteflika’s bid to stand for a fifth term of office, the demonstrations which are held every Friday developed into a movement demanding an end to corruption and the resignation of Algeria’s political elite.

Young people are at the forefront of the protest movement with youth unemployment standing at 26.4 per cent for under 30s, who make up two-thirds of Algeria’s 41 million population.

Since the protests began a number of business leaders have been arrested over corruption charges, including Ali Haddad who was caught trying to flee to Tunisia with bags of cash thought to amount to millions of dollars.

Army chief Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaed Salah explained that more corruption cases were set to be announced in the coming days.

“The judiciary has been freed from all pressures. The country will be cleansed of corruption and corrupt people,” he said.