Algeria protesters have rejected the interim leader named today to replace former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, shouting: “Out with the system” as they called for the dismantling of the political hierarchy that has led Algeria for two decades.

A student protest in Algiers had been timed to coincide with the Algerian parliament’s decision to designate the upper chamber’s leader Abdelkader Bensalah, a Bouteflika ally, as interim president.

Within the hour, police moved in on the demonstrators, dousing them with pepper spray, shooting from a water cannon and using batons to break up the crowd of thousands on a central avenue.

Recalled, weeks of protests forced ailing Bouteflika to step down last week after two decades in office. The protests started on February 22 and have been overwhelmingly peaceful.

As called for by the Algerian constitution, Mr Bensalah was appointed to an interim post for a maximum of 90 days until a new election can be organised.

He can’t run for president himself when the election is held, local media states.