05/01/2009
The Algerian government, "following the directives of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika", has asked the United Nations, the Arab League, the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and the African Union to send international observers to the April 2009 presidential elections, Echourouk quoted Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia as saying on Saturday (January 4th). The move reportedly comes in response to the refusal of opposition parties to participate in the election without the presence of foreign observers.