Algerian political powers are to hold talks on reforms on Saturday, as the opposition intends to boycott what it describes as feeble attempt at real change.

Algerian political powers are to hold talks on reforms on Saturday, as the opposition intends to boycott what it describes as feeble attempt at real change.

Fearing that his people would echo popular uprising in the neighboring Arab countries, President  Abdelaziz Bouteflika pledged in April a number of reforms to be introduced before the end of the year including modifying the constitution and revising electoral law.

He invited all political parties and experts in constitutional law to come up with further proposals that would be submitted to parliament or a referendum.

Bouteflika has tasked speaker of the National Council (Senate) Abdelkader Bensalah to start sounding political parties, flanked by two advisers to Bouteflika -- General Mohamed Touati and a former minister Mohamed Ali Boughazi.
However, opposition view the choice of the trio of negotiators as a thinly-veiled attempt by Bouteflika to keep his grip on power.

"We wait for concrete action towards change in order to re-establish trust in power and the state, not just fiddling around," said Karim Tabbou, secretary of the Socialist Forces Front (FFS) which will boycott the talks.

Said Sadi, leader of the Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD) which was established after January 21 riots that left five dead and 800 injured, said that the government-initiated talks were simply a "monologue against change."
"The era of political tinkering is over," he added.