Bensalah: Algeria witnesses great historic event, thanks to Algerian people

ALGIERS, April 9 (MENA) - Algeria's Interim President Abdel Kader Bensalah said Tuesday that the country is witnessing a great historic event in response to the voice of the Algerian people.

Addressing the Algerian parliament after confirming Bensalah's naming as interim Algerian president, he said "I am required by national duty to take on this heavy responsibility of steering a transition that will allow the Algerian people to exercise its sovereignty."

As called for by the Algerian Constitution, Bensalah was named as interim leader for a maximum of 90 days until a new election can be organized. He can't run for the post himself. Members of the opposition abstained from Tuesday's vote.