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Algerian interim president Abdelkader Bensalah on Thursday called for "dialogue" after the authorities ruled out elections scheduled for 4 July.
Bensalah urged the North African political clbad and civil society to hold an "inclusive dialogue" aimed at setting a new election date "as soon as possible" in a televised speech.
The Algerian constitutional council said Sunday that it was impossible to organize the poll to choose a successor to former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika early next month, after the rejection of both candidates.
This decision comes after weeks of protests aimed at pressuring political leaders to push back the vote.
Bensalah, the former Speaker of the Upper House, was appointed on April 9 under constitutional rules that a presidential election must then be held within 90 days.
With this certain delay, the constitutional council suggested that its mandate be extended.
The planned vote sparked many protests as Algerian protesters demanded that Bouteflika's allies step down to make way for a broader political overhaul before the elections.
Army chief Ahmed Gaid Salah has become a key force since Bouteflika resigned on 2 April following mbadive protests over his run for a fifth term.
Gaid Salah had been an ally of the sick president, but under growing pressure from protesters, he finally called for the dismissal of the long-time leader.
The protesters have since called for Gaid Salah to resign, along with other personalities who they say are sullied by their allegiance to Bouteflika during his 20 years of government.
While Gaid Salah pushed for elections, July 4th seemed more and more unlikely, as no major party nominated a candidate.
A major obstacle appeared when some mayors and magistrates declared that they would not participate in the organization of the polls.
The two unknown personalities who appeared, Abdelhakim Hamadi and Hamid Touahri, were not supposed to gather the 60,000 signatures of electors necessary to validate their candidacy.
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