Algeria assembly polls open amid bomb fears

ALGIERS, May 17 (Reuters) Algerians went to the polls today amidst fears of an outbreak of political violence to vote for a new parliament expected to remain dominated by the three parties of a governing coalition.

The polls to choose the 389 members of the lower house of parliament are the third since an Islamist revolt erupted after the cancellation of a general election in January 1992, which a now-outlawed Muslim fundamentalist party was poised to win.

Up to 200,000 people have been killed in political bloodshed since then, and while the violence has dropped sharply in recent years a fresh spate of bombings by Islamist armed groups has threatened the north African country's attempts to rebuild.

A triple suicide bombing claimed by al Qaeda killed 33 in Algiers on April 11, and one policeman was killed when two small bombs went off in the eastern city of Constantine on the eve of voting yesterday, raising fears of an eventual return to 1990s-style violence.

But social problems are still Algerians' main concern, with unemployment among adults under 30 at a dismal 75 per cent.

The presidency is the most powerful office of state in Algeria, a supplier of oil and gas to north America and Europe, and Algerians tend to believe the assembly exists to rubber stamp the decisions of the executive branch.

The National Liberation Front (FLN), is expected to keep its position as the largest single party, with the pro-government Rally for National Democracy (RND) likely to take second place. The FLN and RND are part of a ruling coalition with the Movement of Society for Peace (MSP), a moderate Islamist party.

More than 10,000 voting stations around the large north African country will close at 0030 hrs IST.

Final results are due to be announced by Interior Minister Noureddine Yazid Zerhouni tomorrow at a 1430 hrs IST news conference.

REUTERS GL PM1337