Liamine Zeroual

Algeria on Friday proclaimed Liamine Zeroual, head of its military-backed government, the overwhelming winner of presidential elections. But his election, in a vote boycotted by most of his major opponents, only heightened pressure on the government to open dialogue with Islamic insurgents.

Algerian political parties began a flurry of consultations following President Liamine Zeroual's call for early elections, and a newspaper said Saturday that his decision to step down was a "coup d'etat in disguise" by the powerful military establishment.

President Liamine Zeroual's party won a majority of seats Thursday in a new upper house of parliament, ensuring that he will have virtual veto power over legislation. The vote put the finishing touches on Algeria's political restructuring, an attempt by Zeroual to gain more power to snuff out a 5-year-old Islamic insurgency that has killed an estimated 75,000 people, mostly civilians. Two-thirds of the 144-seat upper house were chosen by local representatives elected in October.

President Liamine Zeroual, battling an Islamic insurgency and economic woes, announced Friday that he will shorten his term and call an early election before March. Zeroual, 57, made his statement on nationwide television. He didn't give a date for his resignation, though presumably he will remain in office until a successor is elected. He was elected to the presidency in November 1995 for a five-year term.

President Liamine Zeroual, battling an Islamic insurgency and economic woes, announced Friday that he will shorten his term and call an early election before March. Zeroual, 57, made his statement on nationwide television. He didn't give a date for his resignation, though presumably he will remain in office until a successor is elected. He was elected to the presidency in November 1995 for a five-year term.

Algerian political parties began a flurry of consultations following President Liamine Zeroual's call for early elections, and a newspaper said Saturday that his decision to step down was a "coup d'etat in disguise" by the powerful military establishment.

A party formed this year to back Algerian President Liamine Zeroual trounced all rivals in municipal elections Friday as the regime cemented its plan to legitimize governing institutions to face an Islamic insurgency that has claimed more than 65,000 lives.

Muslim fundamentalists slit the throats of 19 civilians in a village near Algiers in a second night of carnage, Algerian security forces said. The Thursday slayings brought to 29 the number of people killed in overnight attacks. The attacks followed a lull in raids since a Nov. 28 referendum to change Algeria's constitution and ban political parties based on religion.

President Liamine Zeroual promised to hold new legislative elections next year but did not say whether the country's outlawed Islamic opposition will be allowed to participate. The announcement came after an assassination and a bombing similar to previous attacks claimed by militants seeking to overthrow the secular government and establish an Islamic state.

Algerian President Liamine Zeroual has fired hard-line Interior Minister Abderrahmane Meziane-Cherif, a staunch opponent of Muslim militants waging a guerrilla war against the army-backed government. He was replaced by Mustapha Benmensour, the former governor of the eastern region of Annaba. Meziane-Cherif's ouster as Interior minister, a post with key responsibilities for fighting the militants, was the first major government reshuffle since the Algerian Cabinet was formed in February, 1994.

President Liamine Zeroual's party won a majority of seats Thursday in a new upper house of parliament, ensuring that he will have virtual veto power over legislation. The vote put the finishing touches on Algeria's political restructuring, an attempt by Zeroual to gain more power to snuff out a 5-year-old Islamic insurgency that has killed an estimated 75,000 people, mostly civilians. Two-thirds of the 144-seat upper house were chosen by local representatives elected in October.

A party formed this year to back Algerian President Liamine Zeroual trounced all rivals in municipal elections Friday as the regime cemented its plan to legitimize governing institutions to face an Islamic insurgency that has claimed more than 65,000 lives.

Algeria on Friday proclaimed Liamine Zeroual, head of its military-backed government, the overwhelming winner of presidential elections. But his election, in a vote boycotted by most of his major opponents, only heightened pressure on the government to open dialogue with Islamic insurgents.

In a new sign of reconciliation, the government said Wednesday that it has closed its last internment camp and freed the 640 suspected Muslim militants once held there. The camp in southern Algeria was one of seven that held thousands of militants accused in a nearly 4-year-old insurgency that has left an estimated 40,000 people dead. The government announced the closure in a statement but did not specify when it was shut.

The leader of the country's largest labor union--a key presidential ally and an opponent of the Islamic insurgency--was killed along with a bodyguard and another union employee in central Algiers. Hours later, a bomb exploded in a marketplace in Blida, 30 miles south of the capital. The blast killed 15 people and injured at least 30, an official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.