Algeria Oyahya forms his government

The new Algerian prime minister, Ahmad Oyahya, yesterday announced the formation of his government which does not include large changes regarding the already expired government.

An official source in Algiers said that many ministers including Minister of State For Foreign Affairs Abdul Aziz Balkhadem or Nour Eddine Zarhouni the minister of the Interior remained in their posts.

However, change was made in the ministry of finance which will be led by Abdul Latif Ashnaho instead of Muhammad Terbash.

This new government includes 28 ministers and 10 ministers from other government's departments such as the former government which was led by Ali Benflis who was fired by President Abdul Aziz Butaflika amid differences between the two men on the presidential elections due in the spring of 2004.