Algerian opposition seeks neutral election monitors

An Algerian political bloc, consisting of 37 opposition parties and civil society associations, demanded on Saturday the government to keep the ministries of interior and justice away from monitoring the presidential elections, due in April. The bloc called, in a statement following the meeting of its leaders, for forming an independent election commission to oversee the elections, and postponing the amendment of the constitution until after the polls. The bloc also urged President Abdulaziz Bouteflika to reshuffle the cabinet so that the cabinet could include impartial figure and suit the convening of the elections in a better way. In this connection, Chairman of the Movement of Society for Peace Abderrazak Makri said today's statement constitute "a declaration of the start of a peaceful political resistance. "This resistance aims primarily to rid Algeria of the claws of corruption and cheating," Makri pointed out. Chairman of the New Generation Party Jilali Sofian said it's time for the opposition parties to "impose a new fait accompli and give vent for democratic freedoms." Meanwhile, Mohammad Dowebi, leader of the Islamic Renaissance Movement, said today's meeting gave a quantum leap to the drive of the coalition in the run up to the presidential polls. On his part, Ahmad Benbitour, presidential hopeful and former prime minister (1999-2000), called on the government and the opposition parties to work together for reaching consensus on a vision for political transition