Algerian PM suffers blow as unions refuse to support new govt formation

Thirteen Algerian unions have refused to back newly-appointed Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui's efforts to form a government he hopes will placate protesters who are pressuring President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and his inner circle to step down.

"We will not hold discussions with this system, we belong to the people and the people said 'No' to the system," Boualem Amora, one of the leaders of the education sector unions, told reporters.