tagged w/ Third Term
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ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — Incumbent Abdelaziz Bouteflika won a third five-year term as president of Algeria in an election marred by six terror attacks that left one policeman dead, the interior minister said Friday.
Bouteflika won 90.24 percent of the vote, with more than 74 percent of Algerians casting ballots, Interior Minister Noureddine Yazid Zerhouni said.
The 72-year-old Bouteflika had been widely expected to easily win Thursday's election in this North African country, which faces sluggish economic growth despite its massive reserves of oil and gas.
The six bombings were carried out by terrorists aiming to disrupt the election, Zerhouni said. No further details were immediately available.
Bouteflika has vowed to continue his policy of national reconciliation and reconstruction following an insurgency that has left up to 200,000 people dead since 1992.
The landslide came amid calls for an election boycott by the opposition, which suspected massive fraud.
Bouteflika faced five relatively unknown challengers. National radio reported late Thursday that the president's supporters were crowding streets in some towns to rejoice, and fireworks echoed through Algiers.
In power since 1999, Bouteflika is credited with largely pacifying the country . But he is blamed for not doing enough to spread Algeria's natural riches among the people.
Bouteflika received quick congratulations from France, its former colonial ruler.
4/10 9:10 AM ET - ClipsFC - WandaALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — Incumbent Abdelaziz Bouteflika won a third five-year... more
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