Hundreds of thousands of protesters demanding the departure of Algeria's ruling elite have rallied in the North African nation's capital as police reported arrests after clashes that left more than 80 officers injured.
Police in anti-riot gear fired tear gas to disperse a crowd of several hundred youths in the city centre, witnesses said, after an otherwise largely peaceful march joined by families throughout the day.
Police arrested 180 people after clashes with "infiltrators" among the demonstrators who injured 83 policemen, a police statement said.
President Abdelaziz Bouteflika stepped down after 20 years in power 10 days ago, bowing to pressure from the army and weeks of demonstrations mainly by young people seeking change in the country.
But the protests, which began on February 22 and have been largely peaceful, have continued as many want the removal of an elite that has governed Algeria since independence from France in 1962 and the prosecution of people they see as corrupt.
Bouteflika has been replaced by Abdelkader Bensalah, head of the upper house of parliament, as interim president for 90 days until a presidential election on July 4.
"No to Bensalah," the protesters chanted on Friday.
"We want the prosecution of all corrupt people" and "no to the gang", said banners held up by the protesters. Many waved Algeria's white, green and red crescent moon flag.
"We came out today to say that Bensalah's position is unconstitutional," one of the protesters, who gave his name as Nawal, told Reuters.
State television said similar protests took places in most cities.
More than one-in-four people under the age of 30 are unemployed - one of the central grievances of protesters who want the economy liberalised and diversified to reduce its reliance on its oil and gas production.
On Wednesday, Algeria's army chief, Lieutenant-General Ahmed Gaed Salah, said he expected to see members of the ruling elite close to Bouteflika, who he called a "gang", prosecuted for corruption and said he would support a transition toward elections.
The army initially monitored the unrest from the sidelines. Then Salah intervened, declaring Bouteflika - rarely seen in public since suffering a stroke in 2013 - unfit to rule.
