Butaflika returns to Algeria today

Thousands of Algerians have prepared for a people's welcome for their President Abdul Aziz Butaflika, who will be returning today to his country after he had spent more than one month for medical treatment in France.

Pictures of President Butaflika were raised in public squares, and the official Algerian TV since several days started to broadcast preparatory programs for the president's arrival occasion. Well-informed sources at the Algerian presidential palace said that the "local authorities of Algiers governorate prepared a special program for welcoming the President Butaflika."

Butaflika is expected to sign today the draft budget for 2006 which was ratified by the parliament. It is not clear yet whether he will assume his full missions after December 31st or not, after the minister of state and the personal representative for the Algerian President Abdul Aziz Balkhadem had stressed that the first international activity for President Butaflika after his return back from a medical treatment visit in Paris will be attending the African Union in al-Khartoum on January 23rd, 2006. Balkhadem also stressed that Butaflika will be attending the Arab summit to be held also in Khartoum in March 2006.

Butaflika, 68 years old, was admitted to the Parisian Vale De Grace hospital on November 26th. He extended his stay in Paris after he was recommended by doctors to stay in the hospital till December 17, 2005 and was said to have stomach related health problems.