Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to resign 'before mandate ends'

Protest-hit Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika will resign before his mandate expires on April 28.

Bouteflika will resign "before April 28, 2019", after "important decisions" are taken, the presidency said in a statement on Monday, without elaborating. 

The news comes after Bouteflika on Sunday named a new government which will be headed by Noureddine Bedoui.

Local state media reported that that armed forces chief Ahmed Gaid Salah, who has called for Bouteflika to step down, remained as deputy defence minister.

Ailing Bouteflika, who has rarely been seen in public since a 2013 stroke, has come under mounting pressure to quit power since his decision to seek a fifth term sparked huge demonstrations.

The 82-year-old said last month that he would not run for president and postponed April elections. Since then, Algeria has been rocked by many protests.

Once the president resigns, then the speaker of Algeria's upper house of parliament Abdelkader Bensalah would act as an interim leader for up to 90 days during which a presidential election must be organised.

(With inputs from AFP)