ALGIERS
Security forces have dispersed a demonstration by hundreds of Islamist activists opposed to incumbent president Abzelaziz Bouteflika, who seems close to clinch a fourth five-year term as president, eyewitnesses said.
Security forces dispersed hundreds of Islamist activists, mostly from the outlawed Islamic Salvation Front (FIS), who had attempted to stage demonstrations following Friday noon prayers, according to eyewitnesses.
The protest dispersal came only hours before Bouteflika, 77, was announced the winner of the presidential election.
Ali Belhadj, former FIS vice president, was arrested during the demonstration, according to a statement issued by his office.
Roughly ten other protesters were rounded up during subsequent scuffles with security forces, eyewitnesses said.
On Thursday, security forces briefly detained Belhadj as he monitored polling in capital Algiers.
Before being dispersed by security forces, demonstrators at Friday's rally had shouted anti-Bouteflika slogans, accusing the government of rigging elections and playing up voter turnout numbers.
They also held banners reading, "Don't turn the republic into a monarchy, Bouteflika," and "Down with the constitution; we want an Islamic state."
The FIS boycotted Thursday's poll, asserting that it would simply be rigged in Bouteflika's favor.
Nearly 23 million Algerians were eligible to vote in Thursday's election, in which a total of six candidates took part.
Despite concerns about his health and opposition calls for a new head of state, Bouteflika – who cast his ballot from a wheelchair on Thursday – won the poll with 85.5 percent of the vote, according to preliminary results.
On Friday, Interior Minister Tayeb Belaiz put total voter turnout at 51.1 percent, representing some 11.3 million voters.
Thursday's vote was monitored by more than 300 foreign observers dispatched by the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the African Union and the United Nations.
By Abderrazek Ben Abdullah
englishnews@aa.com.tr
