Algeria's uniformed officers and nomads living in remote areas began voting Monday in early polling in the north African country's legislative elections.
Officers of the Algerian police, customs service and civilian guards started casting their ballots four days early, state radio said, adding that around 500 roving polling stations began serving nomadic voters living in the desert south.
On Tuesday, soldiers and gendarmes are to cast ballots in the polls, for which campaigning ended on Monday, according to AFP.
Algerians living abroad - over 800,000 voters - began mailing in postal ballots on Saturday.
The rest of the electorate, except for most residents of the troubled ethnic Berber district, Kabylie, who are boycotting the polls, will vote on Thursday.
Eighteen million people of a population of an estimated 31 million are eligible to vote in the elections, however widespread voter apathy was evident during the campaign during a time of ongoing civil war and severe economic hardships.
The government has announced security measures such as banning weekly markets and prohibiting trucks from using major thoroughfares in the country's main cities. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
