Hackers target website of Algeria ruling party

ALGIERS

The website of Algeria’s ruling party on Wednesday was targeted by unknown hackers amid continued demonstrations in different parts of the country against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s recent decision to run for a fifth term in office.

The hacker group reportedly identified itself only as "Hackers dz", suggesting that members are of Algerian origin.

The homepage on the group’s website features the following phrases in English: “Leave us alone. Leave Algeria alone. We forgive.”

Following the cyber-attack, Algeria’s ruling National Liberation Front (NLF) temporarily closed its website until posts left by the hackers could be deleted.

Last month, the NLF nominated the 82-year-old Bouteflika -- who has ruled Algeria since 1999 -- to run for a fifth presidential term.

Since then, Algeria has seen a number of anti-Bouteflika demonstrations in different parts of the country, including capital Algiers.