News on al-Ammari resignation, Zarhouni appointed as defense minister

It has become almost evident that the Algerian army chief of staff lt. Gen. Muhammad al-Ammari has quit his post. A matter which used to be mere rumors during the past days.

Al-Ammari's absence from receiving the Frenh defense minister during his recent visit to Algeria increased the previous rumors on his fate; despite justifications made by media and political sides for this absence to that he is in a hospital in Spain for medical treatment.

The Algerian delegation in the negotiations with the French side was headed by the army deputy chief of staff Qayed Saleh and the minister of the Interior Nour Eddin al-Zarhouni. A matter which perpetuated the conviction that the Algerian President Abdul Aziz Butaflika decided to restore back the army file by himself in his capacity as a president for the Republic and the higher commander of the armed forces.

However, observers consider that Butaflika will appoint the minister of the interior Nour Eddine Zarhouni as a minister of defense, the post which the president himself assumed, due to his strong relations with him and for Zarhouni's position in the wheels of the authority as he had assumed several posts including the military security official for many years.

It is also expected that Butaflika will announced the expected changes in November upon celebrating the 50th anniversary of the launching of the Algerian liberation revolution in 1954.