Bouteflika lifts ban off Benjedid

The Algeria News Agency on Thursday reported that the Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has released a decree which permits former Algerian President Chadli Benjedid to move freely. The agency noted that Benjedid received a diplomatic passport.

Since his enforced resignation in January 1992, Benjedid isolated his self in Ouran, to the west part of the country and made no statements.

The Algerian papers said last week that Benjedid traveled to France and then to Belgium in order to have medical checkups.

Meanwhile, a statement for the Algerian presidency said that Bouteflika has removed eight province's governors and more than 70 heads of local councils in the framework of his campaign to fight corruption.