Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 15, 1990 TAG: 9006150801
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A/1 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: ALGIERS, ALGERIA LENGTH: Short
The Algerian government seemed stunned by the decisive victory scored by the Islamic Salvation Front in Tuesday's elections, the first free vote since independence from France in 1962.
Algerian officials have not yet replied to the demands of Sheikh Abassi Madani, head of the Islamic front, to dissolve Parliament and hold early national elections. They also have not responded to suggestions that the governing party propose a coalition with the fundamentalists.
In final results announced Thursday by Interior Minister Mohamed Salah Mohammedi, the Islamic Salvation Front won 853 of the 1,539 municipal councils at stake. The National Liberation Front carried 487, and the anti-clerical Rally for Culture and Democracy gained 87. The rest went to small parties and independents.
The National Liberation Front was Algeria's only legal political party until constitutional reforms were implemented last year.
The turnout was 65 percent of the 12.8 million registered voters, an unusually low total for Algeria. Two parties opposed to both the governing party and the fundamentalists boycotted the elections.
Madani told the French TV network TF-1 that Algeria was in no danger of being swept by radical Iranian fundamentalism. "We are Moslems - not fundamentalists," he said.
However, his party advocates the use of Islamic law and restricts women to a subservient role.
by CNB