Algerians protest against presidential election

Thousands of people took to the streets of Algerian capital, Algiers, to protest against Thursday’s presidential election.

They briefly overran a polling station.

An attempt by police to disperse the crowd failed.

Two more voting centres were stormed in the Kabylie region, east of the capital.

The vote follows the ousting of president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who was forced to resign in April.

The protesters have continued to demand the sweeping away of Algeria’s entire political establishment, and they are boycotting the election.

All five candidates standing were closely linked with the rule of ex-president Bouteflika.

Meanwhile, polls have closed in Algeria where a contentious presidential election, boycotted by tens of thousands of protesters nationwide was held. 

Anti-riot police were deployed early on Thursday to block access to Maurice Audin square and the iconic grand post office in central Algiers, the epicentre of the months-long protests.

The protesters are demanding the departure of the old guard and an overhaul of the political system.

Algeria’s independent election monitoring authority said voter turnout stood at 33 percent at 5pm local time, just two hours before polls closed.

More than 24 million people are eligible to vote.