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Algerian Presidential Elections 'Impossible' on July 4

by Agence France-Presse

   ALGIERS --

   Algeria's constitutional council said Sunday it was impossible to hold
   elections to choose a successor to ousted president Abdelaziz
   Bouteflika early next month as planned, after the only two candidates
   were rejected.

   "The constitutional council rejects the candidature applications" and
   as a result has announced "the impossibility of holding presidential
   elections on July 4", according to a statement carried by national
   television.

   It will now be up to interim president Abdelkader Bensalah to "again
   convene the electoral body and to finalize the electoral process" until
   a new leader is sworn in, the council said.

   Bensalah, the former upper house speaker, was appointed on April 9
   under constitutional rules which deem a presidential election must then
   be held within 90 days.

   But the planned vote has drawn widespread protest, with Algerian
   demonstrators demanding Bouteflika allies step aside to make way for a
   broader political overhaul before any elections are held.

   The July vote had been backed by Algeria's army chief, General Ahmed
   Gaid Salah, a key powerbroker who supported Bouteflika until ultimately
   calling for the impeachment of the long-time leader, who stood down in
   April in the face of mass protests.