Algiers - Mr Abdelaziz Bouteflika called for national unity as he was sworn in yesterday as Algeria's new President amid continued domestic rejection of his victory and foreign concern over the electoral process.
Mr Bouteflika (62) won a presidential poll on April 15th in which he stood as the sole candidate, and the one favoured by the military establishment, following the withdrawal of six others who charged that voting had been marred by massive fraud in special preliminary ballots held for security services.
In his inaugural speech, the head of state said he wanted to unite Algerians and undertook to respect "individual and collective beliefs and liberties in peace, security and in competition."