Bouteflika defends army and criticizes Saadani

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika Tuesday said no one has the right to hit the military institution and the country’s stability in response to Amar Saadani’s remarks, Secretary General of the National Liberation Front (FLN).

In a condolences letter to the vice-defense minister Colonel Ahmed Gaid Saleh following a military aircraft crash, President Bouteflika said no one has the right to raise noise about the Popular National Army and the other constitutional institutions.

“We had got used to the atmosphere ahead of any elections. However, this time was an attempt to hit the Popular National Army’s unit and the country’s stability,” said the letter.

A week ago, Saadani told a news website the intelligence department chief General Toufik failed in ensuring safety in Algeria and should resign.

This comes as a military aircraft crash Tuesday killed 77 people in the province of Oum Bouaghi (east of Algeria).

Observers raise questions about reasons behind President Bouteflika’s position whether it is a result of an agreement in power about the fourth term or the identity of the president’s successor.