Government: 97.4% Vote For Amnesty

In a long-awaited referendum on September 29, voters endorsed the government's plan to offer amnesty to Islamic rebels by an overwhelming majority, according to results announced by the government. Interior Minister Nourredine Zerhouni reported that 97.4% of voters backed the Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation, with 82% of 18.3mn eligible voters turning out. However, instead of confirming the government's mandate to proceed, the large turnout and approval figures have instead cast doubt on the reliability of the government's figures and the transparency of the election

To read the full article, please choose one of the following options: