Algeria signs new constitution into law

December 7, 1996
Web posted at: 3:50 p.m. EST (2050 GMT)

PARIS (CNN) -- Algerian President Liamine Zeroual signed new constitutional reforms into law Saturday that ban political parties based on religion or language.

The new constitution enacts reforms approved in a November referendum, according to the official Algerian news service, APS. It was signed after two nights of raids that left 29 civilians dead. Algerian security forces blamed the deaths on Muslim fundamentalists.

The constitution extends the president's powers, allows political parties except for those based on religion and language, limits the president to two five-year terms and makes Islam the state religion.

Reuters contributed to this report.

 

Related story:

• Newspaper says Algeria's election wasn't peaceful - November 30, 1996

Related sites:

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• The World Factbook 1995: Algeria
• ArabNet: Algeria

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