Algerian sources: Zeroual exposed to pressure

Algerian Nation's Council member Yehia El-Din Eimiro, a supporter of Algerian President Liamine Zeroual, said that Zeroual has been exposed to constant pressure, and the president had to choose either to resign and create a crisis or call for early elections to allow a peaceful atmosphere for the transition of authority.

In press statements Eimiro said he is calling for multi-party elections and that every party has the right either to nominate a person or to elect the leader.

Algeria has 11 legal political parties, at the top of which comes the National Democratic Assembly, whose deputies occupy 156 of the parliament's 360 seats.

An official in the Movement for a Peaceful Society party said the Algerian parties began consultations immediately after the president delivered his speech in which he called for early elections, yet he said that his party will not be able to announce anything until its leader, Sheikh Mahfouz Nehnah, returns from his current visit to Britain.

The majority of the Algerian parties expressed yesterday their appreciation and respect for Zeroual.

A state of anticipation and astonishment prevailed after the president's sudden decision to hold early presidential elections and not include himself.

The parties called for disbanding the current coalition government and forming a neutral government to supervise the elections.