In pictures: Algeria elections

1 of 8 Algerians began queuing early on Thursday morning to have the chance to cast their vote.

2 of 8 Voting was faster in the capital Algiers (above) than in Berber-speaking Kabylie, where there was a poll boycott.

3 of 8 At this polling station at Bab el Oued in Algiers, election officials checked that voters' papers were in order before they cast their ballots.

4 of 8 For the first time, Algeria's women had the choice of a female candidate.

5 of 8 Flags depicting the incumbent President Abdelaziz Bouteflika fluttered in an Algiers street. He faced a challenge from five other candidates.

6 of 8 The president made sure to cast his own vote good and early.

7 of 8 Mr Bouteflika's rivals accused him of planning to rig the election and of having abused his office to further his re-election chances.

8 of 8 On Friday, official results showed President Bouteflika won the election by a huge margin.