King Mohammed, Bouteflika highlight need to hold Arab summit soon

King Mohammed VI of Morocco and Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika highlighted Friday the need to hold the Arab summit as soon as possible in Tunisia.

This came on phone talks between the two heads of state following Bouteflika's reelection for a second mandate as head of state of the North African country.

The Arab summit, initially due on March 29-30, was unilaterally postponed by Tunisia for "divergences" between member states of the Arab League.

Early on the day, the Moroccan sovereign had sent a message to president Bouteflika in which he said this reelection "for a second presidential mandate is both a token of the Algerian people's renewed trust in Your great statesmanship and a recognition of the considerable gains that you accomplished during your first term."

The Algerian president was re-elected by 83.49% of the 8.4 million voters. Turnout was estimated at 59.26%.