Voting in Algerian presidential election ends, vote count begins

ALGIERS

Vote count began on Saturday evening as polling for the snap presidential election in Algeria ended at 1900GMT.

The polling stations have closed, and the counting of votes has begun immediately in the presence of the media and representatives of the three candidates, an Anadolu correspondent on the ground reported.

Earlier, the electoral authority extended the voting time by one hour, so the polling stations closed at 1900GMT.

The North African country has more than 24 million registered voters. Over 800,000 Algerians abroad began voting on Sept. 2.

Voter turnout for the snap presidential election increased to 26.45% three hours before the polls closed, with 18.31% of voters participating from abroad, the Independent National Election Authority said.

In June, President Tebboune announced the snap election, initially scheduled for December. He claims to represent all Algerians, particularly the youth, middle class and disadvantaged.

Besides Tebboune, 78, Abdelaali Hassani Cherif from the Movement of Society for Peace and socialist Youcef Aouchiche are also competing.

Cherif, 58, is the leader of Algeria's largest Islamic party.

Aouchiche, 42, the first secretary of the Socialist Forces Front, Algeria's oldest opposition party that was founded in 1963, represents the leftist opposition.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala​​​​​​​