Fraud claims in Algerian elections

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.

Bouteflika’s campaign claims it swept yesterday’s presidential race, which was seen as a pivotal test for democracy in oil-rich North African country long dominated by the army and still struggling to emerge from a bloody 12-year Islamic uprising.

Riot police jostled journalists and fired tear gas at opponents of Bouteflika who attempted to hold a protest in Algiers, claiming his allies had stolen the vote. Several arrests were made.

Official results were not expected until later today. But many supporters of the president said he had won.

“This is a moment of great joy – we are going to win in the first round,” said Abdeslam Bouchouareb, a Bouteflika campaign spokesman. “The seeds we planted for the country have borne fruit.”

Throughout the capital, supporters of the president flooded the streets, blaring car horns and brandishing large photos of Bouteflika as they sped through the city’s winding streets in cars and trucks.

Allies of former prime minister Ali Benflis, Islamic candidate Abdallah Djeballah and Kabylie regional leader Said Sadi had tried to organise a rally - but were repelled by riot police.

“They burned ballot boxes, harassed our election observers and blocked streets leading to the polls,” said Ali Mimouni, a spokesman for Benflis. “That confirms the fraud we were expecting.”

However, he offered no proof of his claims.

“It appears that he (Bouteflika) will have won with an outrageous score,” said Hamid Lounaouci, a spokesman for Sadi. “We don’t accept it, and we are going to challenge it.”

Algeria was dominated for years under one-party rule by the National Front for Liberation – Benflis’ party. A multi-party system was set up in 1989, but efforts at full democracy have sputtered.

Voters turned out in smaller numbers than five years ago, when Bouteflika cruised to an easy victory, but only after his six rivals quit the race on the eve of the election – claiming fraud.

The interior ministry said the national turnout rate was just under 58%, about two percentage points lower than in the last presidential election.

Supporters of Bouteflika said he would easily collect more than 50% of the overall vote, which would allow him to avoid a runoff in two weeks.