Briefly

ALGERIA

Voters cast ballots to elect president

Algerians headed to polls on Saturday to elect their next president, with more than 23 million citizens eligible to cast ballots. Voting began early in the day, with polling stations nationwide opening at 8 am. Mobile polling stations have been in operation since Wednesday to facilitate voting in remote areas, while overseas voting commenced on Monday. The race involves three candidates: President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, 78, seeking a second term as an independent candidate with broad support; Abdelaali Hassani Cherif, 57, head of the Movement of Society for Peace; and Youcef Aouchiche, 41, secretary-general of the left-wing Socialist Forces Front.