Zeroual's decision to retain power until elections may be unconstitutional

Algerian informed sources revealed today the possibility that a technical committee of constitutional law experts will begin works this week to discuss the constitutionality of president Zeroual's decision to hold presidential elections in February or March .

The sources also said that the Algerian authorities held communications with Algerian expert Dr. Mohammed Bedjaoui, a member of the International Court of Justice at the Hague, to be the head of this committee.

If this committee decides that Zeroual's decision is unconstitutional, the president will be obliged to choose either to continue his term until it ends in the year 2000 or present his resignation so that the head of the Nation's Council, Beshir Bu Mehza, can assume power for 40 days, during which presidential elections can take place.