Algeria's 2014 presidential election officially concluded on late Thursday amid some reported violence across the North African nation.
Some 23 million registered voters cast their ballots to elect their next president in Algeria's fifth presidential election since the plural party system was adopted in 1989.
Algerian state television aired images of voters lining up in queues in front of polling stations in the 48 provinces of the country, as they waited to choose one of the six presidential candidates, a list that includes incumbent President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
To secure ballots, the Algerian government mobilized an unprecedented 186,000 officers to secure the 27,700 polling stations around the country, with more than 10,000 checkpoints set up in the main cities.
Yet, the ballots were still disturbed by some violent attacks reportedly in the locality of Machdallah in the province of Bouira, about 100 km east of the capital Algiers.
Around 80 people were injured in the clash between anti- presidential election protesters and anti-riot troops, and some polling stations were vandalized by demonstrators, local media reported.
The mood in the country is tense as many Algerians worry that the country could slip toward a uncertain future if the election results are disputed.
Two hours before polling stations were closed, Interior Minister Tayeb Belaiz told a brief press conference that the turnout of the presidential elections hit 37.04 percent nationwide, with the highest turnout rate recorded at 64.66 percent in the province of Tindouf.
However, the opposition parties challenged the temporary turnout of 37.04 percent announced by the government.
A statement issued by six opposition parties, including Islamist and secular, read that "most of the reports received from different provinces confirm a low turnout," and "the high turnout that the government talks about is misleading public opinion, amid large boycott of the polls."
The six presidential candidates are running for the post of the top job, but observers say the race is narrowly limited between incumbent president Abdelaziz Bouteflika who seeks a fourth term in office, and his former premiere, Ali Benflis.