President Abdelaziz Bouteflika hailed his landslide re-election for a third term as a “lesson in democracy”, but opposition politicians and independent media alleged fraud at the polls, and the US government expressed concern.

Al-Qaida’s North African affiliate claimed responsibility today for a car bombing in Algeria that killed 30 coastguard officers and another recent blast that ripped through a crowd waiting for the president.

A booby-trapped car exploded at a barracks housing coast guard officials in Algeria today, killing at least 17 people and injuring about 30, the country’s official news agency reported, citing hospital authorities.

At least 16 people were killed and more than 74 injured by a bomb that ripped through a crowd waiting for the Algerian president to arrive in an eastern town.

The annual Arab League summit was sharply divided even before it began in Sudan today, with late-night wrangling over the wording of the final declaration and the absence of a number of key leaders at a meeting meant to tackle the region’s tricky problems.

Algeria expected to announce referendum results today on a peace plan that provides amnesty for a broad spectrum of Islamic extremists, an effort to move past a brutal insurgency that President Abdelaziz Bouteflika says left 150,000 dead.

Algerians today voted on a peace plan the government says will help turn the page on a brutal Islamic insurgency that left an estimated 120,000 dead, but which critics say will whitewash past crimes.

Algeria’s President Abdelaziz Bouteflika was re-elected to a second term of office in a landslide victory, the Interior Ministry announced.

Waving banners and honking car horns, supporters of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika claimed he was heading for victory today, in a re-election bid that opponents claim was tainted by fraud.

ALGERIANS, lurching towards democracy after a bloody Islamic uprising, are going to the polls today in a presidential election that pits President Abdelaziz Bouteflika against a group of challengers warning of possible electoral fraud.

FOREIGN rescue teams left earthquake-torn Algeria yesterday, but the nightmare went on for 15,000 homeless people facing the threat of disease and public fury mounted over the government’s handling of the calamity.

RESCUE workers fought against time yesterday to try to find an 11-year-old girl believed to be alive in the rubble of a building as Algeria’s earthquake death toll passed 2,000, with nearly 9,000 hurt.

The death toll from a devastating earthquake in northern Algeria neared 2,200 today.

The death toll from a devastating earthquake in northern Algeria has risen to more than 2,000.

Bodies wrapped in blankets and plastic bags piled up in morgues today as the death toll mounted following Algeria’s devastating earthquake.

The Algerian President says he will not step down amid criticism of his management of two months of rioting that has left dozens dead.

Security forces in Algeria have killed 13 Islamic militants as part of a military crackdown on rebels committed to a nine-year insurgency.