April 14, 1999
Web posted at: 7:54 p.m. EDT (2354 GMT)

ALGIERS, Algeria (CNN) -- Despite the sudden withdrawal of six of seven candidates, a crucial presidential election will take place Thursday as planned, Algerian President Liamine Zeroual said Wednesday.

"I decided that the election process will take place as scheduled and invite you to vote," Zeroual said in a nationally broadcast address 12 hours before the polls are to open.

The retired general denied charges of voter fraud from the six anti-military opposition candidates, who earlier in the day removed themselves from the race.

"We have decided to collectively withdraw from the presidential elections and will not recognize the legitimacy of its outcome," the six said in a statement after outgoing President Zeroual refused to meet with them to discuss their complaints.

Only Abdelaziz Bouteflika, widely believed to have the support of Algeria's military, remains in the race.

Bouteflika said he would accept the presidency only with a large turnout at the polls and a commanding majority of votes.

The six former candidates said the election has been rigged in favor of Bouteflika with early voting by police, soldiers and firefighters. The group wanted those votes declared void.

The group members said they would remove their poll monitors from voting places and would "pursue the mobilization of the movement of the citizens, to impose the respect of their right to decide and choose freely."

The election was to give Algeria the first civilian president since 1965, and reconcile a country which has been torn by a violent Islamic rebellion. Over the past seven years it has claimed some 75,000 lives.

Bouteflika, 63, said his country could fall into a deeper crisis without a strong majority behind him.

Many Algerians, skeptical of the fairness of the vote, have decided not to participate.

"It's sure the election has been fixed," said Khalida, an 18- year-old student who declined to give her last name out of fear.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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