Algeria postpones presidential elections until April

Algerian parties have received a communique that contained the approval of President Liamine Zeroual on postponing early presidential elections from February until April. Zeroual pledged yesterday the "purity and freedom of the presidential elections."

He also pledged to establish an independent committee for supervising the elections. The Algerian president said he would decrease the number of voting bureaus so these bureaus can contain security assistants and representatives of the independent committee for supervising elections.

Zeroual stated that delaying the elections from February till April will give a better chance for political parties to get ready for participation in the elections.

Zeroual denied that he had retreated from earlier statements that he will not nominate himself in the coming elections.

He said it is important to count votes purely according to the law and to deliver a copy of the count to the representatives of nominees.

Meanwhile, several notable French intellectuals and politicians sent a message to the French LeMonde in which they warned that press freedom in Algeria have been violated and has to be protected.