People protest against Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, in Algiers, Algeria March 8, 2019. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

ALGIERS (Reuters) - Algerian security forces detained 195 people during mass protests on Friday, state television said, citing offences such such as looting as grounds for the arrests.

Tens of thousands packed the centre of the capital Algiers to capacity on Friday to challenge President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s 20-year-old rule.