Thousands of people took to the streets in central Algiers, as the authorities held a presidential election that the mass protest movement views as a charade intended to keep the ruling elite in power. Local media showed videos of demonstrators throwing ballot papers to the ground. Only 33% of Algerians turned out to vote

• Thousands march in Algeria after controversial election result
  

Ruling party hoped election of Abdelmadjid Tebboune as president would end months of instability

Huge crowds have massed in Algeria’s capital to protest against the election of a former loyalist of the deposed leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika as president in a widely boycotted poll.

Demonstrators who flooded central Algiers on Friday vowed to keep up their campaign for the total dismantling of the political establishment following Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s victory in Thursday’s election.

Low turnout reflects widespread disaffection with election pitting regime loyalists against each other

An opposition call for a mass boycott of presidential elections in Algeria appeared to have succeeded on Thursday, as polls shut after a day marked by mass demonstrations, police clashes and a wave of arrests.

The turnout in the election appeared to be around 20% – a victory for the country’s pro-democracy protest movement, which has derided the vote as a sham.