At a crucial time in the elections, Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s website was inaccessible Sunday, the official start for campaigning for Algeria’s 17 April election. His people said that it was a cyber attack.
Before the website went down.according to another website, El-Watan2014 set up for the residential election, there was a message written Ali Benflis will be our future president” had appeared on the site.
Benflis is the main challenger to Bouteflika, who is seeking a fourth term in next month’s poll. The incumbent president’s Facebook page said his website was being temporarily suspended because of a cyber attack which had altered its “graphic and editorial contents”.
Campaigning opened on Sunday amid mounting criticism of Bouteflika’s bid to clinch a fourth term in office despite concerns over his health.
He rejected such concerns in a message to the nation on Saturday, insisting he was fit to govern and had decided to stand in response to persistent calls from Algerians.