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ALGERIA-POLITICS-DIPLOMACY-CANADA
Canada says Algeria must set election date soon
OTTAWA, March 13, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Canada on Wednesday urged Algeria to
quickly set a new date for a presidential election, amid concerns that
Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika is seeking to prolong his two-decade
rule.
In a surprise announcement Monday, the ailing 82-year-old Bouteflika said
he would not stand for a fifth term — but also cancelled next month’s
presidential election in the North African country.
“Canada supports democratic, free and fair elections in Algeria and stands
ready to support this effort,” Canada’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
“We encourage the Algerian government to set a new date for elections
without delay,” it said, adding that the people of Algeria must be allowed to
decide how they will be governed, including choosing a president.
The thousands of Algerian students who protested on Tuesday in Algiers and
other major cities like Oran denounced what they called Bouteflika’s “tricks”
as an attempt to simply extend his fourth term.
On Wednesday they were joined by teachers.
Bouteflika has said that a “national conference” will determine a new date
for the presidential election, which had been set for April 18.
The veteran leader uses a wheelchair and has rarely appeared in public
since suffering a stroke in 2013. Demonstrators have rallied for weeks
demanding his resignation.
BSS/AFP/RY/1938 hrs