Algeria cancels July 4 presidential vote, rejects candidates
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Algeria's Constitutional Council says there will be no presidential election on July 4 as planned in the North African country after the two candidates — both unknowns — were rejected.
The council said in a statement Sunday that it is now up to the interim president, Abdelkader Bensalah, to set a new date for the vote.
Only two candidates turned in their files by the May 25 deadline, but the Constitutional Council rejected them. It did not say why.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Presidential elections were ordered after ailing long-time leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika stepped down on April 2 under pressure from the public and the powerful army chief, ending two decades of rule.
Citizens have held weekly pro-democracy protests since Feb. 22 to press for a new era with new leadership that has no links to Bouteflika.