Number of candidates for April elections reaches 18

International organizations accepted invitation by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to send representatives in order to attend the presidential elections next April, say Algerian Minister of Interior, Noureddine Yazid Zerhouni  

• “The United Nations, African Union, European Union and Arab League decided to attend the presidential elections, and sent promises to the Algerian Foreign Ministry,” Zerhouni said.
• Zerhouni also said during the closing ceremony of the autumn parliamentary session, “The date for the elections will be next second or ninth April. Number of candidates reached 18”.
• He also talked about Berriane locality, south of Algeria, clashes, “Government will take necessary measures to prevent any other incidents in the area”.
• Previously,Algerian parliament approved the lifting of presidential term limits, a move that opens the way for 71-year-old Algerian President  Abdelaziz Bouteflka to run for a third mandate.
• Bouteflika came to power in 1999 and was re-elected in 2005.