Algeria's Bouteflika won't run for 5th term

ALGIERS, Algeria - Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Monday announced that he would not run for a fifth presidential term, but he indefinitely postponed presidential elections slated for April 18, the official APS news agency reported.

Now in his 20th year of rule, Bouteflika, 82, said his withdrawal was in response to the mass rallies across the country. Since February 22, the Friday rallies have drawn tens of thousands calling for the ailing Bouteflika to step down. He returned to Algeria on Sunday after three weeks of medical care in Switzerland.

Later on Monday, Bouteflika conducted a key cabinet reshuffle by appointing Noureddine Bedoui as the new prime minister and Ramtane Lamamra as deputy prime minister.