Algeria's Bouteflika announces decision to quit presidential election

ALGIERS, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Monday announced his decision not to seek candidacy for the upcoming presidential election, official APS news agency reported.

In a message sent to the nation, Bouteflika said he will not seek for a fifth term in the presidential election, while postponing the election slated for April 18 for an indefinite period.

Bouteflika said his withdrawal from the election was a response to the continuous popular rallies across the country since Feb. 22.

Meanwhile, he announced his decision to carry out a cabinet reshuffle, set up an independent national conference to prepare and adopt reforms to form a new political system, and draft a new constitution for referendum.