Algerian Communication Minister: no room for Al-Jazeera at present

Algerian communication minister Abderachid Boukerzaza said no way could Al-Jazeera channel come back to Algeria at present indicating the approbation of the government of a draft bill on press relation.

 “The government’s council approved on Tuesday on the status which determines work relations in the press,” the minister told journalists Tuesday.

 He revealed latest statistics in his sector regarding the number of newspaper in Algeria which is estimated at 291 including 65 daily and 32 Arabic ones.According to Boukerzaza, the government gave the go-ahead for the communication ministry to reorganize media system. “My ministry has obtained authorization from housing ministry to allocate a part of participation housing to journalists.” Asked about the return of former Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia to the political scene in Algeria, Boukerzaza said the appointment of Ouyahia to represent President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in a number of international occasions comes within the president’s prerogatives.