Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators gathered in Algeria's capital on Friday in the biggest protest yet against the decision of Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to delay the election, calling for him to step down immediately.

Bouteflika also canceled a presidential vote set for April and promised a "national conference" to carry out reforms and said a new election would take place before the end of next year.

The almost entirely peaceful demonstrations are the biggest outpouring of dissent seen in Algeria for decades.

However, security forces reportedly closed several roads leading to the capital from neighboring towns and cities, preventing some from joining the protesters, but others continued on foot, determined to take part.