Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, facing mass protests over his 20 years in power, will run in April's elections, his campaign manager said on Sunday, with Ennahar TV saying he had offered to step down after a year if re-elected.
The announcement read out by Abdelghani Zaalane on Bouteflika's behalf said that the president pledged to organize an early election, with Ennahar TV saying that this would be held within a year.
The comments are likely to be viewed as an attempt to appease those who had taken to the streets for 10 days to protest the 82-year-old's plans to remain in office and to allow him an exit on his own terms.