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Algerians vote on Bouteflika's re-election bid Algerians vote on Bouteflika's re-election bid
(about 5 hours later)
Polls have opened in Algeria where incumbent President Abdelaziz Bouteflika is seeking a fourth term in office. Algerians are voting in elections in which incumbent President Abdelaziz Bouteflika is seeking a fourth term.
The 77-year-old leader has rarely appeared in public since suffering a stroke last year and has not campaigned personally ahead of the election. The 77-year-old leader, who suffered a stroke last year and rarely appears in public, cast his vote in a wheelchair.
Mr Bouteflika, who is favourite to win, is facing five other candidates. Despite not personally campaigning, Mr Bouteflika is expected to beat his five other opponents.
Opposition parties have held protest marches and called for a boycott, describing the election as a sham. A coalition of Islamist and secular opposition parties have called for a boycott, describing the presidential election as a sham.
They say Mr Bouteflika is unfit to run because of his health problems.They say Mr Bouteflika is unfit to run because of his health problems.
Three other presidential candidates pulled out of the race soon after Mr Bouteflika's candidacy was announced, saying the result was now a foregone conclusion.Three other presidential candidates pulled out of the race soon after Mr Bouteflika's candidacy was announced, saying the result was now a foregone conclusion.
His re-election bid has spawned a protest movement called Barakat, meaning "Enough", which have been holding demonstrations around the country.His re-election bid has spawned a protest movement called Barakat, meaning "Enough", which have been holding demonstrations around the country.
Police violently broke up a protest organised by the group in the capital, Algiers, on Tuesday and arrested some of its members, the AFP news agency reports. 'Voting for peace'
More than 260,000 police have been deployed to protect 50,000 polling booths, it reports. Mr Bouteflika was wheeled into a polling station in the El Biar district of the capital, Algiers, to cast his vote.
He did not give any statement, but waved to journalists and supporters.
"We are voting for peace, it's all we want," said a widow, whose husband died in the civil war, at a polling station in the Sidi Moussa district south of Algiers, the AFP news agency reports.
Correspondents say many of the 23 million registered voters, especially the younger ones, are not expected to turn out.
"I can't say how many of my friends will vote; most were not very enthusiastic,'' retiree Rachid Bahriz told Reuters news agency after voting in Algiers.
Another woman voting in Algiers told the AP news agency that Algerians "need new blood".
"But I think we should prioritise stability and peace," she said.
Police violently broke up a protest organised by the Barakat group in Algiers on Wednesday and arrested some of its members, AFP reports.
More than 260,000 police have been deployed to protect 50,000 polling booths, the agency reports.
Mr Bouteflika's main challenger, Ali Benflis, said he would not tolerate any attempt to rig the election in favour of the president.Mr Bouteflika's main challenger, Ali Benflis, said he would not tolerate any attempt to rig the election in favour of the president.
"In case there is fraud I will not shut up. This does not mean we will push for chaos, because we have opted for stability," he said."In case there is fraud I will not shut up. This does not mean we will push for chaos, because we have opted for stability," he said.
Mr Bouteflika took office in 1999 when Algeria was still caught up in a civil war between the military and Islamist militants and has been credited by supporters for curbing the conflict and restoring some economic stability.Mr Bouteflika took office in 1999 when Algeria was still caught up in a civil war between the military and Islamist militants and has been credited by supporters for curbing the conflict and restoring some economic stability.
He scrapped constitutional rules in 2008 limiting him to two terms in office.He scrapped constitutional rules in 2008 limiting him to two terms in office.
Mr Bouteflika won elections the following year with 90% of the vote.Mr Bouteflika won elections the following year with 90% of the vote.