Algerian prime minister eyes presidency

Informed sources in Algeria confirmed that the leaders of the coalition party comprising the Democratic National Assembly Party, the Peaceful Society Movement and the National Liberation Front held a meeting with Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia, discussing with him the methods of arranging the governmental situations, as Ouyahia has already decided to resign as a preliminary step toward making himself a candidate in upcoming presidential elections.

The sources said that the meeting was held in the residency of Ouyahia in El-Snober club, attended by the secretary general of the National Assembly Party, El-Taher Ben Baibesh; the head of the Peaceful Society Movement, Sheikh Mahfouz Nehnah; and the secretary general of the National Liberation Front, Boualem Bin Hamouda.

Algerian factional sources confirmed yesterday that the parties meeting Algerian President Liamine Zeroual last week over arrangements for presidential elections asked that the current government could be changed and the date of early presidential elections, to be held in February be postponed by several weeks so the parties would be able to set up for these elections.

Some parties have suggested appointing an expanded national United government succeeding the current government that can prepare for the elections and supervise it.

The parties agreed to from an independent national committee to supervise the elections, comprised of parliamentarians and representatives of parties not represented in parliament. This committee will assume the tasks of supervision while they disagreed upon bringing international supervisors.