Algeria's president withdraws from ballot, postpones poll

By Abdul Razak bin Abdullah

ALGIERS (AA) - Algeria’s President Abdelaziz Bouteflika postponed the April presidential election on Monday and withdrew his candidacy, according to the state-run news agency.

Bouteflika’s announcement came amid mass protests against his nomination to seek a fifth term as president in the elections previously slated for April 18, Algeria Press Service said.

Bouteflika also received Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia in Algiers on Monday and Ouyahia “tendered his resignation to him,” according to the same source.