Hundreds of thousands protest in Algeria, demanding radical reform

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators returned to Algeria's streets on Friday to demand further democratic change, despite former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika's resignation weeks ago.

Parliament named an interim president and an election date of July 4 was set. But the former president's exit failed to placate many Algerians, who want to topple the entire elite that have dominated the country since independence from France in 1962.

Protesters gathered again in city centers around Algeria demanding reforms, including political pluralism and crackdowns on corruption and cronyism.

During protests, an unknown device prompted security to close off an area in downtown Algiers to check a suspected bomb threat.

A bomb squad investigated the package, which did not turn out to be a bomb.