Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has stepped down after 20 years in office and weeks of massive nationwide protests aimed at pushing him out of power.

Axar.az reports citing Dailymail.

The announcement followed a call from the powerful army chief for the ailing president, 82, to 'immediately' take up his proposal to bow out while respecting the constitution.

The official APS news agency said that Bouteflika had notified the Constitutional Council of his decision to end his mandate.

There was no immediate word on who would take over.

Under the constitution, the president of the upper house, the Council of Nations, steps in as interim leader for a maximum of 90 days so that elections can be organized.

Army chief Ahmed Gaid Salah had earlier in the day convened a meeting of the top military hierarchy, making clear that the call for Bouteflika to step down had the backing of the military.

The Defence Ministry communique referred to Bouteflika's entourage as a 'gang' and said it had made 'fraud, embezzlement and duplicity its vocation'.

As president, age and illness took its toll, and corruption scandals dogged him and associates.

Bouteflika is accused of failing to create an economy that could offer enough jobs, despite the nation's vast oil and gas wealth.

Armed forces chief Ahmed Gaid Salah called for 'the immediate application of the constitutional procedure for removing the head of state from power', in a defense ministry statement after a meeting of top brass.

The statement said the army considered an announcement from the presidency on Monday that Bouteflika would resign by the end of his term on April 28 as invalid because it did not come from the president himself.

'Any decision taken outside the constitutional framework is considered null and void,' the general said.