Algerian presidential candidates' programs

Candidates for the Algerian presidency asserted in their election programs the need to give priority to the question of restoring peace and security to Algeria.

Candidate Abdul Aziz Butafliqa stressed that deepening "party pluralism and democracy through providing the proper atmosphere in this respect, will help eliminate violence and realize security and stability."

For his part candidate Mawloud al-Hamroush, who is a former premier, said that solving the current crisis in Algeria passes through perpetuating democracy. He called for cooperation with the Algerian people in order to end political violence.

Candidate Ahmad Taleb al-Ibraheimi, who is Algeria's former foreign minister called for "resisting the attitude of revenge, the culture of hatred, extremism and the concept of alienation so as to maintain tolerance and achieve national reconciliation."

Candidate Sheikh Abdullah Jaab called for finding a political solution for the crisis in which all sides commit themselves to political practices to assume power and to achieve peace, security and national reconciliation.

The Candidate for the Socialist Forces Front, Hussein Ayat Ahmad, stressed the need to establish a policy of coexistence and to give up violence so as to establish reconciliation and building democracy basis through bringing together all active and legal political forces with no exception.

Female candidate Lweisa Hanoun called for convening an Algerian peace conference to establish peace and halt violence. She called for releasing all prisoners of "opinion" (those who are jailed just because they have certain opinions) and lift pressures imposed on the press in Algeria.

Sheikh Mahfouz Nahnah, the candidate of the "peaceful society movement," underlined the importance of manifesting confidence between the ruler and the ruled through achieving a real expression of the Algerian people's will.