The former Algerian prime minister, Mouloud Hamouche, has announced that he'll stand as a candidate in next April's presidential election.

Mr Hamouche is head of the reformist wing of the National Liberation Front, the FLN, one of the parties in the governing coalition.

The party has already chosen the former foreign minister, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, as its official presidential candidate.

The main religious party in parliament, the MSP, has also put forward its nominee.

He's the party leader, Sheikh Mahfoud Nahnah.

The election is being held nineteen months ahead of schedule after the current president, Liamine Zeroual, decided to step down early.