SAHARA PRESS SERVICE

Bir Lehlu (liberated territories), 10/04/2004 (SPS) The President of the Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, addressed a message of congratulations to his Algerian counterpart, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, after the latter's re-election as president of the Algerian Democratic Popular Republic, last Friday, with 83.5 per cent of the valid votes.

''Allow me to address you, on my personal name and on behalf of the SADR's people and government, our warm and sincere congratulations, hoping you full success and inspiration in the materialisation of the goals our brothers Algerians had entrusted you, for your qualities and merit'', wrote Mr. Abdelaziz.

''If former Algeria has given the world an example in its revolution for freedom, it is giving now another example of democracy, pluralism and civilised rivalry, for the benefit of the people and the respect of the latter's will'', added the letter, of which SPS received a copy in Arabic.

''Receiving Algerian people confidence is not only a proof of the esteem of your personal efforts in the liberation and development of the country, but also an approval of the ambitious programme you are presenting'', he stressed. (SPS)

030/090/100/TRD 101514 Apr 04 SPSd. (SPS)