Algeria set to start presidential election on April 17

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika signed on Friday a decree that set the presidential election for April 17, the presidency announced in a statement Saturday. The 2014 election is legally due on April 16 or 17, given that the current presidential term expires on April 16,2014, and Article 132 of the Organic Law stipulates that the presidential elections should be held 30 days prior to the end of the presidential term. A national committee in charge of preparing the presidential election is to be set up imminently, which will be headed by the Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal. The committee will be consisted of representatives from ministries of interior, justice , finance and media. However, the opposition has been urging the government to establish an independent commission to organize a fair and free presidential election, which has been rejected by the government. For now, President Bouteflika has not announced whether or not to run for a fourth presidential term. There are already 4 political parties that have openly called Bouteflika to run for a campaign, despite his health troubles.