Al-Ammari confirms optional retirement from the Algerian army

Former Algerian army chief of staff lt. gen. Muhammad al-Ammari who resigned from his post on August 3 said he withdrew from the army after his own request after he had completed his mission.

In a message addressed to the army the day of his resignation and issued in the military "the army" magazine in its August's issue, al-Ammari said "I am physically leaving the national people's army but my heart will remain for ever remembering the many years I have spent in it," in remarks that he is in the age of retirement.

This message, however, aims at putting an end to rumors which loomed that al-Ammari ( 65 year old) was obliged to resign over differences with the Algerian President Abdul Aziz Butaflika.

Al-Ammari considered that the situation in Algeria was greatly improved during the two decades during which he had led the army. This is, he explained, were thanks to sacrifices made by the military establishments.

His successor Lt. Gen, Aaleh Ahmad Qayed said in a message on August 7th in the same issue of the magazine that the " priority for him " lies in continuing our struggle against terrorism of which only remains small groups converted into stealing and rubbery acts, but are still able damaging."