FLN declared winner in Algerian election

Algerian Prime Minister Ali Benflis’ power National Liberation Front has been declared winner of the country’s recent general election.

The FLN won a majority of 199 seats in the Algerian National People’s Assembly in a vote that the opposition described as fraudulent.

Only 47% of Algeria’s 17 million voters cast their ballots after opposition parties boycotted the election because, they said, the country’s military rulers were preparing to use fraud to ensure victory.

It was the second general election in Algeria since Islamic militants launched an uprising 10 years ago following the cancellation of an election that a now-banned Muslim party was poised to win.