2 Candidates, Including ex-PM, Pull Out of Algeria Presidential Race
Two candidates, including a former prime minister, announced Monday they were pulling out of Algeria's presidential election, as dissent grows over the April vote.
Ahmed Benbitour, who served as premier from 1999 to 2000, also voiced support for a boycott of the election, in which veteran President Abdelaziz Bouteflika is seeking a fourth term.
In a written statement to Agence France Presse, Benbitour, the first figure to announce in December plans to run for president, said the April 17 poll had already proved to be "piracy with legal backing."
"Once again in Algeria, forces of fraud, have taken over... And that is why I am withdrawing from the election," he said, referring to the government and allies of Bouteflika.
Retired army general Mohand Tahar Yala also announced he was pulling out of the race on Monday, saying the vote was "rigged ahead of time to impose a fourth mandate" for Bouteflika.
"The mafia clan has taken the country hostage in order to stay in power," said Yala, who headed naval forces between 2000 and 2005.
There has been growing dissent ahead of the election, which the ailing Bouteflika, who has been in power for 17 years and just turned 77, is hoping to win.
On Thursday another former premier, Mouloud Hamrouche, called for a "peaceful" change of regime in Algeria which he said needs democratic reforms.
More than 80 people have said they will run and must submit appropriate documents to the electoral commission by Tuesday in order to be eligible.
But by late Monday it was still unclear how many candidates submitted the documents -- besides Bouteflika who made a rare public appearance to present his file.
Analysts say his most serious challenger appears to be challenger among them appearing to be former prime minister Ali Benflis, 69, known as a defender of human rights and popular with intellectuals.
Source: Agence France Presse
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