al-Khabar: Butaflika changes two military leaders

The Algerian daily al-Khabar ( news ) said on Tuesday that the Algerian President Abdul Aziz Butaflika ended the service of each the commander of the Republic guards Lt. Gen. Ali Juma' and the commander of the naval forces Muhammad al-Taher Yali.

Algerian media indicated that Butaflika appointed two new replacements in an attempt to force the army, which enjoys great political influence, more open to foreign cooperation.

Butaflika, who also occupies the post of the minister of defense and the higher commander of the armed forces, appointed lt. gen. al-Ayashi Qareed as commander for the Republicican Guards and lt. Gen. Malik Nasib as a commander for the naval forces.

Changes according to al-Khabar, included the commander of the marine forces and the chairman of the national department for the coast guard, in addition to others reshuffles at the ministry of defense.

A local expert asked to remain anonymous said "the change came in the course of a step aiming at making the army more professional and open to cooperation with foreign forces." The Algerian forces and the naval forces in particular carried out several military training exercises with the NATO and forces of the European states during the past years. The recent appointments came following a series of changes in the army leadership that started with the resignation of Muhammad al-Ammari from his post as army chief of staff in August 2004 after Butaflika won a second five-year term of office.