An Algerian woman (L) arrives on April 9, 2009 to

An Algerian woman (L) arrives on April 9, 2009 to cast her ballot in a voting office during the presidention election in Algiers on April 9, 2009. Oil-rich Algeria went to the polls Thursday with President Abdelaziz Bouteflika favourite to land a third term and a fresh mandate to fight off a persistent Al-Qaeda undercurrent. The 72-year-old, whose portrait dominates city building facades, is up against five less well resourced candidates who complained that state machinery oiled the incumbent's slick campaign. Political opponents many of whom boycotted the polls consider the result a foregone conclusion, a key focus was on how many voters would have turned out once polling closes at 8:00 pm (1900 GMT).