Canada urges Algeria to set election date quickly

OTTOWA - Canada on Wednesday urged Algeria to quickly set a new date for a presidential election, amid concerns that Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika is seeking to prolong his two-decade rule.

In a surprise announcement Monday, the ailing 82-year-old Bouteflika said he would not stand for a fifth term -- but also cancelled next month's presidential election in the North African country.

"Canada supports democratic, free and fair elections in Algeria and stands ready to support this effort," Canada's foreign ministry said in a statement.

"We encourage the Algerian government to set a new date for elections without delay," it said, adding that the people of Algeria must be allowed to decide how they will be governed, including choosing a president.

The thousands of Algerian students who protested on Tuesday in Algiers and other major cities like Oran denounced what they called Bouteflika's "tricks" as an attempt to simply extend his fourth term.

On Wednesday they were joined by teachers.

Bouteflika has said that a "national conference" will determine a new date for the presidential election, which had been set for April 18.

The veteran leader uses a wheelchair and has rarely appeared in public since suffering a stroke in 2013. Demonstrators have rallied for weeks demanding his resignation.