No runners in Algerian presidential race

A deadline to register for Algeria's controversial presidential election has passed without a single candidate putting themselves forward, according to reports on national radio.

The situation raises the possibility of a postponement of the July poll, already opposed by protesters who reject the legitimacy of any vote held under authorities they say are tarnished by corruption under ousted leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

But several other public and private media outlets reported that retired military officer Benzahia Lakhdar, of Bouteflika's National Liberation Front, had put himself forward.

The authorities had hoped to hold the ballot on 4 July, seeing it as the only way out of a crisis that forced Bouteflika to quit in April after weeks of protests.

The deadline for registration passed at midnight.
State radio reported that, in the absence of any candidates, the Constitutional Council would meet later Sunday to decide what to do about "this unique situation", without adding details.

Algeria has been rocked by months of protests since Bouteflika announced his intention to run for a fifth term in February.

He quit office in April but protesters have continued to hold mass demonstrations calling for an overhaul of the "system" and the departure of key Bouteflika-era figures.