Algerian nomads to vote their future president

AFP - Algerian nomads began voting for the presidential election, today.

The authorities said that people gathered at 167 mobile polling stations in the country's vast desert interior.

About 90,000 voters were able to cast their ballots 72 hours before the rest of the country.

Around 23 million Algerians are eligible to vote in Thursday's leadership contest, at about 12,000 voting centres and 50,000 polling booths, choosing between six candidates.

On Sunday the presidential campaign ended after the incumbent Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who wants to achieve his fourth term, had a war of words with his only real rival Ali Benflis.

The 77-year-old Bouteflika remains firm favourite to win, despite his poor health condition.

Late on Saturday, Bouteflika made a rare television appearance - only his second since campaigning began. And when he did, he started accusing Benflis of fomenting violence, referring to his former prime minister's warning of electoral fraud. 

Today, Amnesty International accused the authorities in Algeria of silencing critics and stepping up curbs on freedom of expression in the run-up to the presidential election.