The Algerian government on Saturday set April 9 as the date for a presidential election which is likely to extend President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's rule of the North African OPEC member, Reuters reported. "The President of the Republic signed on Saturday the presidential decree convening the electorate for Thursday, April 9, 2009, with a view to electing the presidency of the Republic," official news agency APS reported. Bouteflika is widely expected to seek re-election, extending his decade-long rule until 2014.