Algerian groups push for election boycott

Ali Benflis holds a news conference to announce his candidacy for the presidential election in Algiers. File picture: Louafi Larbi

Ali Benflis holds a news conference to announce his candidacy for the presidential election in Algiers. File picture: Louafi Larbi

Published Feb 25, 2014

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Algiers - Three Algerian opposition parties are calling for a boycott of April's presidential election, claiming they will not be free and fair.

Leaders of the liberal Rally for Culture and Democracy, the Islamist Ennahda Party and the Movement of Society for Peace said on Monday that the April 17 election should be boycotted because of the danger it represents to the country.

On Saturday, Algeria's ailing president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, made a statement he would run for a fourth term.

Bouteflika has not spoken publicly in three years and only rarely appeared on television since he suffered a stroke.

With the backing of the military, the bureaucracy and the ruling party, Bouteflika will likely win.

The three parties proposed a conference to debate the “dangers to stability and future generations”.

Sapa-AP

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