Polling is under way in Algeria’s presidential elections with incumbent Abdelaziz Bouteflika widely-expected to win and extend his 15 years in power.<br /><br />Bouteflika, who has made very few appearances since suffering a stroke last year, leads the dominant National Liberation Front party (FLN) and has the support of unions.<br /><br />Some of the other candidates and observers have said that state resources are being used in a way that gives him an unfair advantage. <br /><br />Several opposition parties have boycotted the election believing the result to be a foregone conclusion.<br /><br />Police broke up small groups of protesters from a group called Barakat, meaning “Enough”, ahead of the elections. They have called them a ‘farce’.<br /><br />The outcome of the vote is being closely watched by Western governments as Algeria is seen as a partner in Washington’s campaign against Islamist militancy in North Africa and as a stable gas supplier to Europe.<br /><br />Results are expected at the earliest on Friday (April 18).
