Legislative polling starts in Algerian overseas territories

About one million Algerian nationals overseas started to vote Saturday in the Algerian 2007 legislative elections, five days before polls open in mainland Algeria on May 17.

According to Algerian interior minister, over 200,000 new voters registered in various foreign countries, notably France, Belgium and Canada to take part in the elections.

The oversea Algerians will elect eight parliament members, among whom four for France, two for the rest of Europe and two for the rest of the world.

In France, a total of 768,000 voters will choose among nine electoral lists during the poll in 108 voting posts installed in the country's consular offices and in offices of local governments.

A total of 12,229 candidates are enrolled in the 1,144 electoral lists which represent 24 political parties and independent candidates in the legislative elections slated for May 17 in mainland Algeria.

The parties of presidential alliance, namely National Liberation Front (FLN), the National Democratic Assembly (RND) and the Movement of Society for Peace (MSP) have 541 candidates in 54 lists.

Besides, a total of 986 independent candidates registered in 102 lists.

Source: Xinhua