Head of Algeria’s Islamic party threatens to resign

By Abdul Razzaq bin Abdullah

ALGIERS (AA) – The head of Algeria’s largest Islamic party has threatened to resign if his movement decided to join the new government.

"I will quit my post if the [party] voted in favor of joining the government,” Abdul-Razzaq al-Maqri, the head of the Movement of Society for Peace, told Anadolu Agency on Sunday.

Last week, the movement said it has received an offer from President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to join the new government.

Maqri said the Shura Council, the party’s decision-making body, will take a final decision on the offer during its coming meeting, which is expected to be held on Friday.

The movement came third in the May 4 parliamentary elections with 33 seats.

Bouteflika’s ruling National Liberation Front (FLN) clinched 164 out of 462 seats in the assembly, while the National Democratic Rally -- a coalition partner of the FLN -- came in second with 97 seats.

Though FLN and the Democratic Rally have secured the majority of seats to form the government, the Algerian president has opened the door to include other parties.

Maqri said he told Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal of his refusal to include his movement in the new government.

The movement and several opposition parties have cited “fraud” during the parliamentary polls.