ALGIERS, April 9: President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has won re-election in a landslide, according to official results released on Friday, becoming the first Algerian leader to return to power in a democratic vote in 42 years.

But the opposition vowed to appeal arguing the poll on Thursday was marred by fraud.

Bouteflika, who said he needed a second mandate until 2009 to firmly steer the country toward democracy and an economic reform, received 83.5 per cent of the votes cast, Interior Minister Noureddine Zerhouni said. -Reuters