(MENAFN- Arab News) Biskra algeria: ali benflis the main rival to ailing but favorite incumbent abdelaziz bouteflika in algeria's presidential election told afp saturday his main opponent in the april 17 poll will be fraud

'fraud is my principal adversary" said benflis who was beaten in the 2004 election by bouteflika

The two men had been close during bouteflika's first five-year term between 1999 and 2004 before they split and benflis was sacked as prime minister in 2003

'it must be remembered that in 2004 fraud was victorious and democracy was the loser" added benflis

Bouteflika standing against five other candidates was re-elected in 2004 with 85 percent of the vote. benflis came second with just six percent

'this time i have a system in place that will fight fraud with 60000 observers for 60000 polling stations" benflis told afp

'they will be there to monitor and expose any instances of fraud" he said on the campaign trail in biskra 450 kilometers (280 miles) south of algiers

Benflis is bouteflika's main opponent in the election in which the serving president is conspicuous by his absence

Nevertheless the 77-year-old remains the firm favorite despite being too sick to campaign and barely leaving home after a minor stroke confined him to hospital in paris for three months last year

A frail-looking bouteflika appeared on state television on march 3 his voice barely audible to announce he would seeking a fourth term despite concerns about his capacity to govern

In a very rare demonstration of its size thousands of people took to the streets of the capital on march 21 two days before campaigning began to call for an election boycott in protest at bouteflika's candidacy

Analysts say the president's absence from the campaign is unlikely to make any difference in a country where previous elections have been marred by patchy turnout and opposition accusations of fraud.