Abdelaziz Bouteflika

Algeria's Bouteflika wins re-election with over 90 per cent of vote

Algeria's Bouteflika wins re-election with over 90 per cent of vote Algiers - Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika was elected to an unprecedented third term with 90.24 per cent of the vote, Interior Minister Nouredine Yazid Zerhouni announced Friday. The re-election of the 72-year-old Bouteflika was considered a foregone conclusion after the two main opposition parties decided to boycott the vote, alleging that it had been "rigged in advance."

The five candidates who stood against Bouteflika were marginal political figures little known by the general public.

Algerian president sets April 9 election date

Algerian president sets April 9 election dateAlgiers  - Algerian Presidnet Abdelaziz Bouteflika has set a date of April 9 for presidential elections, and has invited several international groups to send observers, Algiers said Saturday.

A presidential palace statement said Bouteflika had named former justice minister Mohamed Teguia to head the election commission for the voting.

He also invited the Organisation of Islamic Conference, the Arab League and the African Union to send observers to monitor the elections, the statment said.