The World - News from Nov. 4, 1988

Algerians voted overwhelmingly to approve constitutional changes, inspired by bloody riots a month ago, that would loosen the sole political party’s grip on national lifeand separate it from the government. The Interior Ministry said that 83% of Algeria’s 12.2 million registered voters cast ballots at 36,775 polling stations across the North African country. The ministry announced that more than 92% of those who went to the polls voted for the reforms. President Chadli Bendjedid has called the referendum the first step in a reform program that eventually may permit independent candidates to run for office. The ruling National Liberation Front will remain the only legal political party, but further changes are to be considered by a party congress later this month.