Tens of thousands Algerians gathered on Friday in the capital to demand the removal of the ruling elite, keeping up pressure for more rapid change after the end of the 20-year rule of Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

The protest, which coincided with Algeria's Independence Day, was the 20th consecutive Friday crowds had gathered to demand a break with the elite which has dominated the oil and gas producer for decades.

Several banners held up by protesters referred to an article of the constitution which says the people are the sovereign, while some others read: "We want a free and democratic state" and "We don't want a military state but a civilian state."

Algeria's army has managed the transition from Bouteflika but wants to overcome the deadlock rapidly through a presidential election, observers say.

A vote had been initially planned for this week but was postponed by the authorities.

The army fears instability in neighboring Libya and the Sahel region will encourage armed groups to operate in Algeria to exploit the transition.

Algeria is an important gas supplier for Europe and a key U.S. partner in the fight against militants in the region.

The latest mobilization comes two days after interim President Abdelkader Bensalah called for a national dialogue, in which he promised the state and army would remain neutral.

His mandate is theoretically due to expire on Tuesday and he warned on Wednesday against the risk of the country falling into a constitutional vacuum.

An already delayed presidential election was postponed again early last month from a planned date of July 4, after only two potential runners, both little known, submitted their candidacies.

A first call for dialogue by Bensalah launched in early June had been limited to the political classes.

The interim president has said he will remain in place until elections are organized.

According to independent news site TSA, his latest call for dialogue risks being rejected "if the authorities don't quickly announce concrete appeasement measures."

Opposition parties, civil society figures and observers are waiting to see how his proposal will play out, because nobody has yet been named to take part in the proposed dialogue.

(With input from AFP and Reuters)