Algerian state of emergency to be lifted 'soon' - president

However, it remains unclear when the emergency laws will actually be repealed. The announcement followed hot in the heels of demands by opposition groups, who have been calling for anti-government protests.

Algeria, like other countries in the region, has recently witnessed demonstrations for greater freedoms – prompted by the Tunisia’s and Egypt’s wide-scale social – which have resulted in injuries. There have also been riots over rising food prices.

Bouteflika made the announcement at a meeting with government ministers in the capital Algiers, the country's state-run media said. He said protests would be allowed everywhere in the country except in the capital.

He added that the state of emergency had been imposed "for the only purposes of the fight against terrorism, and it is this reason only which has justified maintaining it on a legal basis".

Public demonstrations are currently banned in Algeria which endured a brutal conflict with Islamists in the 1990s.

During Thursday's meeting, Bouteflika also reportedly urged the cabinet to adopt measures to promote job creation and said Algeria's TV and radio should give airtime to all political parties.

The president's announcement follows growing pressure from the country's opposition groups, some of whom have been inspired by popular uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia.

The opposition has reportedly been planning to hold a protest march in Algiers next week.