Demonstrations also took place following Friday prayers in several other cities in Algeria.

Who is challenging for the presidency?
So far, six candidates have formally registered, among them a retired general, Ali Ghediri, who has promised to bring “change” to Algeria.

Businessman Rachid Nekkaz, who has a sizeable Facebook following and is said to be popular among Algeria’s young, also plans to join the race.

Two opposition parties, the Labour Party, and the Islamist Movement of Society for Peace, have said they will boycott the election.

Who is Abdelaziz Bouteflika?
Mr Bouteflika came to power in 1999 and is credited with putting an end to a civil war that is estimated to have killed more than 100,000 people.

Protests against food prices and unemployment broke out in 2011 during the Arab Spring but he responded by lifting a nearly two-decades old state of emergency, meeting a key demand of protesters.

After his stroke he won re-election in a poll denounced by the opposition and dissolved the country’s powerful spy agency, replacing it with a body loyal to him.

President Bouteflika has been rarely seen in public – here he was voting in May 2017
Critics say his ill health means that he is unable to perform his duties as president.

Despite growing dissent, Mr Bouteflika is still widely tipped to win the election this year.

Algeria’s opposition is divided and Mr Bouteflika won the last presidential elections in 2014 despite doing no personal campaigning.