Algeria: Presidential candidate Ali Benflis casts ballot in national polls

M/S Ali Benflis, Presidential candidate and former Prime Minister Ali Benflis walking to polling station, Algiers
SOT, Ali Benflis, Algerian Presidential candidate (Arabic): "In the name of Allah, prayer and peace on our noble prophet, I have just carried out my election duty, I have just carried out my election duty. I hope that these presidential elections will benefit the Algerian people, and I hope that these presidential elections will benefit Algeria, God willing. As far as the duty of reservation is concerned and out of respect for the code of honor, and appreciating my duty to preserve the election, I will not speak any further."
W/S Benflis picking up ballot paper
M/S Benflis picking up ballot paper
M/S Benflis casting ballot
M/S Benflis putting finger print on ballot
SCRIPT
Algerian Presidential candidate Ali Benflis cast his vote in the Paradou district of the capital Algiers on Thursday, 12 December.
Benflis served as Prime Minister from 2000 to 2003 and has previously ran for the presidency on two occasions, most recently in 2014.
The election has been surrounded by controversy and protests have been occurring in Algeria since February after 82-year-old then-president Abdelaziz Bouteflika announced he would be running for a fifth term in office. While he dropped his bid and resigned in April, the demonstrations for a complete overhaul of the political system continued.