Butaflika: The army's protection in internal matters will end

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika stated yesterday that the function of internal security in a modern government should not be the domain of the army.

Following attending a maneuver by Algerian troops in Hassi Bahbah in south Algeria, Bouteflika said the army's main function will soon shift to assume its basic function of protecting the nation from the outside.

Bouteflika said the army's protection to the stability, security as well maintaining the internal front will not last for ever, clarifying that after the internal security status is settled in Algeria the army's function will be to protect the other constitutional items that relate to borders and people's unity without interfering in the political life of the country.

Bouteflika, who is also the supreme commander of the armed forces, added that the army is aware of its future responsibilities which is dealing with its modernization, hailing the level of cooperation among the western countries and Algeria to raise the quality of the Algerian army.