The Arabist

The Arabist

By Issandr El Amrani and friends.

Algerian opposition calls for "interim government"

The BBC reports that Algerian opposition figures are calling for the creation of an interim government and an independent body to supervise the upcoming elections.

The statement was signed by 11 members of the opposition parties.

It accuses the incumbent Prime Minister, Ahmed Ouyahyia, of supporting President Bouteflika and alleges that he cannot be trusted to be fair.

It also calls for security guarantees for those who will support opposition candidates at the April elections.

The BBC's Mohammed Areski Himuer in Algiers says that although a new law was recently passed to abolish the special vote for the armed forces, only a few people are taking their promise to remain neutral seriously.


One wonders if a boycott of the election is in the works, as during the last election...