Bouteflika considers holding referendum on national reconciliation

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika said yesterday that he might call for a referendum on a law regarding national reconciliation in case the parliament refuses this law.

Before Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's departure from a brief visit to Algeria on Saturday, Bouteflika said, "I will make a law for the parliament and if it is ratified, I will apply it." He added, "If the parliament does not agree on this law, I will present it to the people."

Bouteflika, elected on April 15, commenting on what he would do if the result of referendum was negative, said, "If the people want something else, I will declare from now on, I will come back home."