ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — Protesters are gathering at the main post office in Algiers, on the ninth straight Friday of demonstrations against the country's leadership.

About 3,000 people had gathered at the Grande Poste, which has been a landmark during the weeks of protests, by 10 a.m. local time.

They were shouting slogans including "Down with the System!" or "You ate the country, you bunch of thieves."

Police forces have been deployed throughout the city.

Earlier this week, interim President Abdelkader Bensalah appointed a new head of the Constitutional Council after the former chief quit under pressure from protesters.

A presidential election has been set for July 4 to choose the successor to president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who stepped down under pressure from the military's chief of staff.