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21:53 GMT
ALGIERS, April 18 (KUNA) -- Algerian presidential candidate Ali Benflis Friday doubted legitimacy of elections, which President Abdulaziz Bouteflika won for a fourth term, but the interior ministry assured transparency of the electoral process.
Following announcement of voting results, Benflis, also former Premier, held a press conference, during which he expressed his disapproval of balloting outcomes and vowed to protest the results using political and legal means.
The former Premier said that the election results were "pre-arranged and organized by an anonymous alliance using forgery, suspicious money, and the media."
He also said that forgery is a political obstacle to democracy, calling on all Algerian political and social forces to confront it.
However, Interior Minister Tayeb Belaiz denied allegations of fraud in the electoral process, reiterating his ministry's commitment of staying neutral during the elections and the voting process.
He also said that an Algerian national committee was assigned to supervise elections in accordance to laws and regulations to assure they were held in a transparent and legitimate manner.
He said the committee was cooperation with all authorities concerned to assure smooth and fair elections.
President Bouteflika won a fourth term in office with over 8.3 out of 11 million of votes, or 81.53 percent, while Benflis came second with 12.18 percent of overall votes cast, or 1.4 million votes.
In addition, candidates Abdulaziz Belaid garnered 3.36 percent, or 343,624 votes, Louisa Hanoune 1.37 percent, or 140.253 votes, Ali Fawzi Rebaine 0.99 percent, 101,046 votes, and Moussa Touati 0.56 percent, 57,590 votes, said Belaiz. (pickup previous)
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