Algerians go to the polls

ALGIERS, Dec 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Algerians go to the polls on Thursday to elect a new president.

It’s the third attempt to hold a vote this year, after mass protests forced the long-term president Abdelaziz Bouteflika to resign in April.

Turnout is expected to be low, as the country’s protest movement is boycotting the vote, rejecting it as a farce.

All five candidates are former senior officials linked to the ousted president.

The protest movement, sparked by Abdelaziz’s earlier announcement that he would stand for a fifth term, is demanding a transitional period before new elections are held. — NNN-AGENCIES