Algeria Presidential Aide Claims Election Win, Rival Alleges Fraud

Local Editor

A top aide to Algeria's incumbent President Abdelaziz Bouteflika claimed victory for the leader amid allegations of fraud by his rivals, following Thursday's vote across the country, as news sources reported on Friday.

Official poll results were to be released on Friday yet Bouteflika's personal representative, Abdelaziz Belkhadem, claimed that, "Our candidate is the winner."
"Without any doubt, Bouteflika got a landslide victory," he said.

However, Ali Benflis, Bouteflika's main rival among several opposition presidential candidates struggling to challenge his 15-year rule, swiftly rejected the projected vote results, alleging fraud.
"I do not recognize these results, I condemn this fraud," he said soon after the polls closed.

The turnout on Thursday was 51.7% of the country's 23 million registered voters, the interior ministry said in a statement.

It would be Bouteflika's fourth term in office if he clinches victory, despite his serious health issues and rare public appearance since he suffered stroke last year.

Thursday's voting was conducted largely peacefully. However, security forces in two villages east of Algiers fired tear gas and clashed with youths who tried to disrupt voting, local officials said.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team