Ben Bella supports the re-election of Butaflika; Algeria: No candidate for the Salvation front
Algeria, Politics, 4/6/2004

The banned Islamic Front For Salvation announced yesterday in a statement that it will not support any candidates for the Presidential elections due on Thursday.

The statement read that after the candidates for the presidency refused to abide by demands of the front to free its prisoners and pardon the wanted, the front finds it not necessary to support this candidate or that, including the Algerian President ( Abdul Aziz) Butaflika, or the candidate of the Islamic trend, Abdullah Jabullah.

The signatories of the statement, foremost being the chief of the front Sheikh Abbasi Madani considered that the Algerian people have the liberty to vote but are not encouraged to do that. The signatories stressed that the position of the front might be different in case a second round is made in the elections, noting that they might take part in the elections, " in support of the best candidates who do not fight our principles."

Meantime, the former Algerian President Ahmad Bin Bella announced his support for the nomination of Butaflika for a second Presidential term of office. Bin Bella stressed the need of giving " Butaflika the chance to complete his programs" and not to waste " Algeria's time by starting another program with a new president."

Meantime, Butaflika stressed in statements quoted for his by the Algerian daily al-Khabar that he will announce a general pardoning in the country. He questioned " what sort of pardoning and the country is burnt by the fire of the civil war." In a people's mass in the downtown of the capital he said that the army should abide by its obligations set by the constitutions " because this issue is clear." He addressed the army leaders saying "Lift up your hands from the Algerian people."

Previous Stories:
  Algeria: elections committee calls on the government to limit violence   (4/3/2004)
  Boufelika: I will never let an Algerian die for Western Sahara   (4/2/2004)
  Polisario threatens peace in maghreb and the world, experts   (4/2/2004)

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