Algerians have been celebrating in the capital, Algiers, after President Abdelaziz Bouteflika announced his resignation with immediate effect after more than 20 years in power.
Car horns could be heard in the streets and people waved the national flag and sang in celebration.
Bouteflika resigned on Tuesday after weeks of massive streets protests. The powerful Algerian army had called for the eighty-two-year-old to be declared incapable of carrying out his duties. The ailing leader suffered a stroke six years ago and has rarely appeared in public since.
He made a rare appearance on state TV to relinquish power hours after military chief Lt Gen Ahmed Gaed Salah had called on him to leave office immediately. According to the constitution, the Senate speaker should take over as interim head of state until fresh elections are held.
Join our twitter community :