Bouteflika, On Wheelchair, Votes İn Algeria Presidency Poll

Incumbent Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Thursday cast his ballot in the country's presidential election from a wheelchair.



State television broadcast footage of Bouteflika as he cast his vote at a polling center in capital Algiers.



Bouteflika, 76, has been absent from the public eye since being treated in Paris for a "mini-stroke" he suffered in April of last year.



The veteran head of state has not appeared at any election rallies, which have only been attended by state and party officials.



Nearly 23 million Algerians are eligible to vote in Thursday's election, in which six candidates, including Bouteflika, will vie for top office.



Bouteflika is widely expected to win a fourth term as president.



Thursday's vote will be monitored by more than 300 foreign observers from the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the African Union and the United Nations.



By Abderrazek Ben Abdullah



englishnews@aa.com.tr - Alger