From Voice Of America

Algeria needs six months to prepare free elections, a protest leader said Saturday, and called for the transition from 20 years of rule by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to be managed by a former minister respected by protesters as well as Islamist.

The call by Seif Islam Benatia for Ahmed Taleb Ibrahimi, an 87-year-old former minister, conservative and author, to play a leading role came a day after hundreds of thousands marched peacefully for the 10th consecutive Friday demanding the departure of Algeria’s ruling elite.

Benatia told a meeting of activists and academics in Algiers neither interim President Abdelkader Bensalahnor Prime Minister Nouredine Bedoui, named by Bouteflika just before he left, could lead the transition, because they were part of the elite.

He also called for a six-month transition period, longer than the 90-day period foreseen by the constitution.

“Definitely the interim president and the prime minister have to leave,” said Benatia, 31, a dentist.

‘Ready to help us’

Ibrahimi, a son of prominent Muslim preacher Bachir Ibrahimi, served under two previous presidents, including as foreign minister. He was not allowed under Bouteflika to register his own political party, a reason he is now
perceived as being outside the ruling elite.

“Taleb Ibrahimiis ready to help us open a new era and endthe crisis,” Benatia said, adding that he had met him. “Taleb will not be a candidate for the presidential [vote]. He is competent and honest and credible.”

There was no immediate comment from Ibrahimi.

Bouteflika stepped down this month, bowing to pressure from the army — the army chief,Lt. Gen. Ahmed Gaed Salah,had declared him unfit for office —and after weeks of demonstrations mainly by young people seeking change.

Protests have continued as demonstrators rejected theappointment ofBensalahas interim president, who as upper house head runs a transition period of 90 days before a presidential election on July 4.

Since Bouteflika’s departure, the army has offered to secure a smooth transition under the framework of the constitution.