Algerian army chief of staff resigns, a successor

A statement issued by the Algerian presidency said yesterday that the Algerian army chief of staff Muhammad al-Ammari submitted his resignation from his post for " health reasons."

The statement read that the Algerian Presudent Abdul Aziz Butaflika accepted the resignation of al-Ammari and appointed the commander of the land forces Lt. Gen. Salah Ahmad in the post of the army chief of staff.

Recently news were rumored on the possibility of al-Ammari resignation from his post especially after his absence from receiving the French defence minister Michael Mary during her recent visit to Algeria on July 16.

The Algerian delegation to the negotiations with the French side was presided over by the deputy army chief of staff Qayed Saleh and the minister of the interior and local communities Nour Eddine Zarhouni.

Several Algerian dailies talked last week about the resignaion of the army chief of staff but did not give reason to the resigantion, which was considered by certain dailies as an alienation to the man who was considered the strongest in the regime.