Turnout in Algeria\'s presidential elections reaches 51.7%

Voters turnout in Thursday's Algerian presidential elections hit 51.7 percent of around 23 million eligible voters, Minister of the Interior Tayeb Belaiz has announced. Chairman of the national commission for the presidential election supervision (CNSEL) Lachemi Brahmi told the Algerian official TV that vote counting has started since the polling stations closure late Thursday. He pointed out that voting operation went overall in a "positive atmosphere" and in "good conditions". He, however, admitted that there were few failures recorded in two voting centres in the provinces of Bouira and two other centres in Bejaia, Brahmi. The CNSEL received until 9:00 p.m. 170 appeals, mainly pertaining to unsealed ballot boxes in some voting centres nationwide, Brahmi added. Six candidates are running for the presidency of Africa's biggest gas producer including incumbent President Abdulaziz Bouteflika. Bouteflika, 77, who is seeking to extend his 15-year rule despite chronic health problems, is expected to win.