Algerians OK Amendments to Constitution

Defying threats of violence by Islamic extremists who have waged a fierce four-year insurrection, Algerian voters Thursday approved constitutional changes that will give their president greater powers and outlaw political parties based on religion, language or ethnicity.

The vote represented the latest attempt by Algeria’s ruling regime to steer the country toward normalcy after a civil war that has claimed about 60,000 lives since 1992.

State radio and television reported today that provisional referendum returns from most of the country’s 48 regions showed a large “yes” vote, according to Reuters news service.

State radio reported high “yes” returns in a number of areas, including 95% in the western town of Mascra and more than 90% in the southeastern region of El Oued and the southwestern province of Saida, Reuters said.

The Berber-dominated northeastern town of Tizi-Ouzou was one of the exceptions, state radio said, with nearly 63% of the voters opposing the draft constitution, Reuters reported. Berbers, the indigenous people of Algeria before the 7th century Arab conquest, constitute at least a quarter of the population and have long wanted constitutional recognition of their language.

Algerian television said Interior Minister Mustafa Benmansour will issue final voting figures today, Reuters reported.

Algerians have been looking for an escape from the bloody conflict that has pitted its military-backed government against the banned Islamic Salvation Front, known by the acronym FIS.

FIS was headed to victory in the country’s first multi-party elections in January 1992 when the country’s military, alarmed at the prospect of an Islamic takeover after three decades of one-party rule by the National Liberation Front, stepped in and canceled the vote.

Since then, fighting has left the North African country of 28 million people in agony, with the violence occasionally spilling over into Europe. Militants have resorted to car bombs and beheadings and have targeted journalists, foreign workers, priests and nuns for death.

The government has used similarly tough methods, including air raids, napalm and torture, in its efforts to crush guerrilla groups.

Until recently, the government had appeared to be gaining the upper hand. But Islamic groups in the seven weeks leading to the referendum showed that they are still a potent force, launching a series of attacks and bombings that have killed about 250 people.

The 140,000-member army was placed on alert during Thursday’s voting, and tens of thousands of security officers were deployed to guard 35,533 polling stations.

Reuters reported that, by early evening, more than three-quarters of the electorate had gone to the polls, according to the Interior Ministry.

The vote was closely watched by Algeria’s neighbors, including Egypt, Morocco, Libya and Tunisia, whose governments fear that Algerian-style Islamic violence could spread across North Africa.

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A main principle in the revised constitution is that parties should not base their appeals on religion.

It addresses the problem felt by many Arab governments: that they are being drawn into bidding wars with opposition groups over which is the more Islamic.

If approved by a majority of Algeria’s 16.4 million voters, the revised charter would strengthen the powers of President Liamine Zeroual, allowing him to appoint most senior government officials and a portion of a new Senate. However, the president would be subject to impeachment and be limited to two five-year terms of office.