A&nbsp;leading&nbsp;Algerian&nbsp;opposition&nbsp;activist has been detained and is to appear before prosecutors on Thursday, his lawyer said, weeks ahead of elections he and other opponents have pledged to boycott.

Karim Tabbou, a key&nbsp;figure&nbsp;in demonstrations that forced longtime president Abdelaziz Bouteflika to resign in 2019, was handed a one-year suspended sentence last year for "undermining state security".

His detention comes as the pro-democracy protest movement known as Hirak has sought to regain some of the momentum it lost when it suspended street rallies just over a year ago due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Tabbou was summoned to the police station on Wednesday evening to respond to a complaint filed against him by Bouzid Lazhari, the president of the National Council for Human Rights, an official body.

The 47-year-old was to appear before a prosecutor on Thursday, lawyer Me Ali Fellah Benali said on social media.

"Algeria's youth is determined to fight for their right to a dignified life," Tabbou told AFP ahead of his detention.

He became one of the most recognisable leaders at mass demonstrations that broke out in February 2019.

The Hirak protest movement was sparked in February 2019&nbsp;over Bouteflika's bid for a fifth term in office.

The ailing autocrat was forced to step down weeks later, but the Hirak has continued its demonstrations, demanding a sweeping overhaul of a ruling system in place since&nbsp;Algeria's independence from France in 1962.

Since the group's second anniversary in February, thousands have returned to the streets, defying a coronavirus ban on gatherings.

Ordinary Algerians 'fed up'

Tabbou said his own party, the Democratic Social Union, was now "the largest political party" in the North African country, despite it being unregistered by the authorities.

His detention comes as activists warn of an increasing climate of repression, with political opponents and journalists targeted in the run-up to the legislative elections on June 12.

Earlier this month, security forces arrested eight people they said were linked to the Hirak movement over an allegedly foreign-financed criminal association.

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune this month warned Hirak activists against "non-innocent activities" that "attempt to hinder the democratic process".

Authorities say the protest movement is being infiltrated by Islamist activists who are trying to drag it towards violence.

President Tebboune served as a prime minister under Bouteflika and won a presidential election in December 2019, in a poll that was boycotted by the protest movement. Official data put the turnout at less than 40 per cent.

In further moves dismissed by the protest movement as window dressing, Tebboune oversaw a constitutional referendum late last year and brought the legislative elections forward, in a bid to soothe the political and socio-economic crisis.

"This election does not concern us," activist Tabbou told AFP.

"The regime mobilised colossal resources to hold a false presidential election, a false referendum -- and now it organises false legislative elections," he said.

Ordinary Algerians were fed up, he said. "We see the country as a barracks".

A leading Algerian opposition activist has been detained and is to appear before prosecutors on Thursday, his lawyer said, weeks ahead of elections he and other opponents have pledged to boycott.

A leading Algerian opposition activist has been detained and is to appear before prosecutors on Thursday, his lawyer said, weeks ahead of elections he and other opponents have pledged to boycott. Karim Tabbou, a key figure in demonstrations that forced longtime president Abdelaziz Bouteflika to resign in 2019, was handed a one-year suspended sentence last year for "undermining state security". His detention comes as the pro-democracy protest movement known as Hirak has sought to regain some of the momentum it lost when it suspended street rallies just over a year ago due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Tabbou was summoned to the police station on Wednesday evening to respond to a complaint filed against him by Bouzid Lazhari, the president of the National Council for Human Rights, an official body. The 47-year-old was to appear before a prosecutor on Thursday, lawyer Me Ali Fellah Benali said on social media. "Algeria's youth is determined to fight for their right to a dignified life," Tabbou told AFP ahead of his detention. He became one of the most recognisable leaders at mass demonstrations that broke out in February 2019. The Hirak protest movement was sparked in February 2019 over Bouteflika's bid for a fifth term in office. The ailing autocrat was forced to step down weeks later, but the Hirak has continued its demonstrations, demanding a sweeping overhaul of a ruling system in place since Algeria's independence from France in 1962. Since the group's second anniversary in February, thousands have returned to the streets, defying a coronavirus ban on gatherings. Ordinary Algerians 'fed up' Tabbou said his own party, the Democratic Social Union, was now "the largest political party" in the North African country, despite it being unregistered by the authorities. His detention comes as activists warn of an increasing climate of repression, with political opponents and journalists targeted in the run-up to the legislative elections on June 12. Earlier this month, security forces arrested eight people they said were linked to the Hirak movement over an allegedly foreign-financed criminal association. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune this month warned Hirak activists against "non-innocent activities" that "attempt to hinder the democratic process". Authorities say the protest movement is being infiltrated by Islamist activists who are trying to drag it towards violence. President Tebboune served as a prime minister under Bouteflika and won a presidential election in December 2019, in a poll that was boycotted by the protest movement. Official data put the turnout at less than 40 per cent. In further moves dismissed by the protest movement as window dressing, Tebboune oversaw a constitutional referendum late last year and brought the legislative elections forward, in a bid to soothe the political and socio-economic crisis. "This election does not concern us," activist Tabbou told AFP. "The regime mobilised colossal resources to hold a false presidential election, a false referendum -- and now it organises false legislative elections," he said. Ordinary Algerians were fed up, he said. "We see the country as a barracks".

Algeria detains leading opposition figure

Former Prime Minister Abdelmadjid Tebboune was <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/algeria-holds-election-in-defiance-of-protest-movement-267809">elected Algeria's new president</a> after a vote the authorities hope will end months of turmoil, but demonstrators who toppled his predecessor Abdelaziz Bouteflika vowed that their movement would not stop.

Tebboune, who served as housing minister under Bouteflika and briefly as premier before falling out with tycoons in the ex-leader's entourage, was announced on Friday as the winner of more than half the vote, making a second round unnecessary.

Authorities said 40 per cent&nbsp;of voters had taken part in Thursday's election, which state media cast as a high enough turnout to vindicate the decision to hold the poll in spite of a boycott.

But protesters saw the contest between five officially sanctioned candidates as an illegitimate sham intended to keep the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/algeria-two-ex-prime-ministers-jailed-two-days-before-election-267458">old ruling elite</a> in place. Thousands of demonstrators were expected to take to the streets to protest against the result.

The authorities, including the powerful army, argue that the only way to move the country forward after demonstrators brought an end to Bouteflika's 20-year-rule in April is to elect a successor.

Weekly protests that toppled Bouteflika have not stopped, with demonstrators demanding the entire ruling elite cede power to a new generation, despite no obvious leader emerging to represent them. The protesters refer to themselves simply as "Hirak", or "the movement".

Tebboune's rivals included another former premier, two former ministers and a former member of the ruling party's central committee.

Protesters marched in cities and towns across Algeria throughout Thursday's election, in some places clashing with police, who tried to disperse them with baton charges.

Late on Thursday, the election body said some 9 million Algerians took part in the election.

"The turnout is satisfying and it will give the new president enough backing to implement his reforms," said Ahmed Mizab, a commentator on state television, saying it showed the decision to hold the elections was "propitious and right".

But Riad Mekersi, 24, who has participated in all the Hirak protests since February&nbsp;22 in Algiers, said the movement will continue no matter who wins.

"We have toppled Bouteflika, and we will topple all the system's men. We won't give up," he said.

Even without questions over his legitimacy, Tebboune will face difficult times.

Nearly all Algerian state revenues come from oil and gas exports, which have declined in both price and volume in recent years. The government has already approved a 2020 budget with a 9 per cent&nbsp;cut in public spending, though politically sensitive subsidies remain untouched.

Former Prime Minister Abdelmadjid Tebboune was elected Algeria's new president after a vote the authorities hope will end months of turmoil, but demonstrators who toppled his predecessor Abdelaziz Bouteflika vowed that their movement would not stop.

Former Prime Minister Abdelmadjid Tebboune was elected Algeria's new president after a vote the authorities hope will end months of turmoil, but demonstrators who toppled his predecessor Abdelaziz Bouteflika vowed that their movement would not stop. Tebboune, who served as housing minister under Bouteflika and briefly as premier before falling out with tycoons in the ex-leader's entourage, was announced on Friday as the winner of more than half the vote, making a second round unnecessary. Authorities said 40 per cent of voters had taken part in Thursday's election, which state media cast as a high enough turnout to vindicate the decision to hold the poll in spite of a boycott. But protesters saw the contest between five officially sanctioned candidates as an illegitimate sham intended to keep the old ruling elite in place. Thousands of demonstrators were expected to take to the streets to protest against the result. The authorities, including the powerful army, argue that the only way to move the country forward after demonstrators brought an end to Bouteflika's 20-year-rule in April is to elect a successor. Weekly protests that toppled Bouteflika have not stopped, with demonstrators demanding the entire ruling elite cede power to a new generation, despite no obvious leader emerging to represent them. The protesters refer to themselves simply as "Hirak", or "the movement". Tebboune's rivals included another former premier, two former ministers and a former member of the ruling party's central committee. Protesters marched in cities and towns across Algeria throughout Thursday's election, in some places clashing with police, who tried to disperse them with baton charges. Late on Thursday, the election body said some 9 million Algerians took part in the election. "The turnout is satisfying and it will give the new president enough backing to implement his reforms," said Ahmed Mizab, a commentator on state television, saying it showed the decision to hold the elections was "propitious and right". But Riad Mekersi, 24, who has participated in all the Hirak protests since February 22 in Algiers, said the movement will continue no matter who wins. "We have toppled Bouteflika, and we will topple all the system's men. We won't give up," he said. Even without questions over his legitimacy, Tebboune will face difficult times. Nearly all Algerian state revenues come from oil and gas exports, which have declined in both price and volume in recent years. The government has already approved a 2020 budget with a 9 per cent cut in public spending, though politically sensitive subsidies remain untouched.

Ex-premier elected Algerian president; thousands prepare to march

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