ALGIERS- Hundreds of people protested in central Algiers on Thursday against the presidential election hours after polls opened, with demonstrators calling for a boycott of a vote they regard as a charade.

Protesters also marched in towns in the Kabylie region on Thursday, where some polling stations have been closed, witnesses and residents said.

(Reporting By Hamid Ould Ahmed; Writing by Angus McDowall; Editing by Andrew Heavens) ((angus.mcdowall@thomsonreuters.com; Reuters Messaging: angus.mcdowall.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))