- Title: ALGERIA: Ballot boxes close, monitors withhold comment for report later
- Date: 11th May 2012
- Summary: ALGIERS, ALGERIA (MAY 10, 2012) (REUTERS) VOTING STATION CLOSE OF SIGN WITH VOTING STATION NAME POLICEMEN OUTSIDE VOTING OFFICIALS INSIDE ROOM CLOSE OF BALLOT PAPERS INSIDE BALLOT BOX CLOSE OF SIGN ON BALLOT BOX READING STATION NAME AND NUMBER SIREN NOISE SIGNALLING END OF VOTING VARIOUS OF OFFICIALS ARRANGING ROOM PREPARING TO COUNT BALLOT PAPERS CLOSE OF BALLOT BOX LOCKS BEING OPENED VARIOUS OF OFFICIALS EMPTYING BALLOT BOX WITH DOZENS OF BALLOT PAPERS INSIDE CLOSE OF ENVELOPES CONTAINING BALLOT PAPERS BEING COUNTED OFFICIAL READING BALLOT PAPER TO COLLEAGUE CLOSE OF BLANK BALLOT PAPER, WHERE VOTER DIDN'T VOTE OFFICIALS NOTING VOTE OFFICIAL COUNTING A BLANK PAPER, SAYING IT OUT LOUD TO COLLEAGUE REGISTERING VOTES CLOSE OF REGISTRY BOOK WHERE VOTES BEING REGISTERED OFFICIAL ANNOUNCING CANCELLED BALLOT PAPER DUE TO ERROR ON PAPER CLOSE OF REGISTRY BOOK OFFICIALS COUNTING CLOSE OF PAPER STATING ERRORS MADE DURING VOTING INCLUDING MULTI PARTY VOTING ON SAME BALLOT PAPER OFFICIAL SORTING OUT BALLOT PAPERS CLOSE OF BALLOT PAPER VARIOUS OF HEAD OF EU ALGERIA MONITORING MISSION, JOSE IGNACIO SALAFRANCA WALKING IN ELECTION PRESS CENTRE (SOUNDBITE) (French) HEAD OF EU MONITORING MISSION, JOSE IGNACIO SALAFRANCA, SAYING: "We don't have detailed account of how many people voted and in regards to ratio of attendance, by 1730 our count matched the official one, there is no specific information yet but we are taking that (match at 1730) as reference for now." VARIOUS OF SALAFRANCA HOLDING NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 26th May 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Algeria
- Country: Algeria
- Topics: Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA3WLTEY2LDW1QY1HEK7D3U5UB4
- Story Text: Ballots closed in Algeria's legislative elections with no clear picture of how many turned out to vote. Results and official turn out figures are expected to be released by midday on Saturday.
As sirens sounded across voting stations marking end of voting, footage showed some only dozen or so voting papers inside the glass boxes.
In some instances, ballot papers were cancelled because they were either blank, had multiple votes or were scribbled on.
Last year's upheavals in the region have created pressure for reform and a renewal of the ageing establishment that has ruled without interruption since independence from France half a century ago.
The authorities in energy exporter Algeria have responded by promising an "Algerian Spring" - a managed process of reform they offer as a counterpoint to the upheavals elsewhere.
Many Algerians, however, see elections as futile because real power, they say, lies with an informal network which is commonly known by the French term "le pouvoir", or "the power", and has its roots in the security forces. Officials say the country is ruled by democratically elected officials.
Head of EU monitoring mission in Algeria, Jose Inglacio Salafranca couldn't verify number of voters who bothered to show up but said his observers account matched those of the government by late afternoon.
"We don't have detailed account of how many people voted and in regards to ratio of attendance, by 1730 our count matched the official one, there is no specific information yet but we are taking that (match at 1730 ) as reference for now," said Salafranca who didn't want to comment further.
The EU is expecting to publish a preliminary report on Saturday. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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