ALGIERS
Algerian presidential candidate Ali Benflis has decried what he described as "massive fraud" in Algeria's presidential election, vowing to reject the vote results.
"The vote has been marred by massive fraud," Benflis told a press conference late Thursday.
The former prime minister, the main rival to incumbent Abdelaziz Bouteflika for the top post, vowed that he "will not recognize the results of the election".
Algerians cast their ballot Thursday in the country's presidential election, in which Bouteflika and Benflis – along with four other candidates – were vying for the country's highest office.
Unofficial results showed that Bouteflika clinched more than 60 percent of the votes in Thursday's ballot.
The final results of the vote are expected to be announced on Friday.
Born in the eastern Algerian Batna province in 1944, Benflis worked as a lawyer before he was selected by Bouteflika to manage his presidential campaign in 1999. When he came to power, Bouteflika appointed Benflis as presidential chamberlain.
In 2000, Bouteflika chose Benflis to be the prime minister of Algeria, before he decided to run in the presidential elections against Bouteflika in April 2004, but he came a distant second to the Algerian strongman.
By Abderrazek Ben Abdullah
englishnews@aa.com.tr
