Calm prevails in elections in Algeria

Algiers, Dec 12 (Prensa Latina) Calm and a strong police device in the streets are the salient features of the polls today where the next Algerian president will be elected.

This city, where French presence for over 120 years is still evident, in the architecture and even the layout of the streets, with the exception of the Casbah, citadel that surrounds Algiers, witnessed violent popular protests that persisted even after the resignation of former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, one of the heroes of the anti-colonial war.

Voters must choose from five candidates for the first magistracy, two of whom were prime ministers and others were high officials in government teams during Bouteflika's terms of office, which extended 20 years.