Algerian president reshuffles government

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika made a government reshuffle on Friday, according to a statement released by the Algerian presidency.

• The statement said Ahmed Ouyahia was reappointed as Prime Minister, and the former Minister of Interior and Local Government Noureddine Yazid Zerhouni is designated as deputy Prime Minister, the statement said.
• Mourad Medelci was reappointed the minister of foreign affairs.
• Dahou Ould Kablia was appointed Minister of Interior and Local Government, and Youcef Yousfi became the Minister of Energy and Mines.
• The president also reappointed Ahmed Noui as the secretary general of the government.
• Bouteflika won the presidential elections in April 2009, but did not reshuffle the government when he began his third term of presidency. The government reshuffle on Friday was the biggest one in recent years.

• A cabinet meeting chaired by the president approved on May 24 the new five-year plan (2010-2014), with a total budget of 286 billion U.S. dollars. It was the biggest program in the past 50 years. The Algerian government faces a major challenge to realize economic and social revitalization.