Voting begins in presidential elections in Algeria

ALGIERS - Polling centers have opened on Thursday in Algeria's presidential election.

More than 24 million people are expected to vote for a president from a total of five candidates.

The election is seen by some as a safe way out to the political crisis hitting the nation for almost 10 months amid weekly popular marches demanding radical change, which forced former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to step down in April.