Students protest against Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, in Algiers, Algeria March 10, 2019. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

ALGIERS (Reuters) - A heavy security deployment has been reported between Algiers airport and the presidential residence in Zeralda, outside the capital, al-Arabiya Hadath TV said on Sunday.

President Abdelaziz Bouteflika is expected to return on Sunday after two weeks in a Swiss hospital as he faces mass protests that pose the biggest threat to his 20-year rule.