Citizens pay tribute to the late Chadli Benjedid

The scores of citizens that flocked to the people’s palace, here in Algiers, to pay tribute to the late president Chadli Benjedid were not able to do it before 3 pm, until the departure of the officials led by the president Bouteflika as well as the representatives of the diplomatic body in Algeria.

At around noon, officials from the military institution and the cabinet as well as the diplomatic body started flocking to the people’s palace and gathered at the palace’s backyard with the presence of the local and foreign media pending the arrival of the body.

Most of the military officers representing the various military regions across the country and different corps led by the minister of state for defence Abdelmalek Guenaizia and the commander in chief Gaid Salah were among the first groups.
The Prime Minister Badelmalek Sellal and the Director General of National Police Abdelghani Hamel were also present.
Other personalities came to pay tribute to the late president including the president of parliament Larbi Oueld Khelifa, the president of the senate Abdelkader Ben Salah as well as the former foreign minister Ahmed Taleb Al Ibrahimi who declined giving declarations to journalists.
The minister of culture Khalida Toumi, refused to give declarations but expressed her utmost sadness to the death of another cultural figure, the singer and musician Boulifa. She was standing by her colleague at the government and long time friend at the opposition party Rally for Culture and Democracy, Amara Benyounes.
The ceremony started at 2 pm by the president Bouteflika who was standing by the body and read verses of the Koran, than followed by the relatives of the late president as well as the other top officials including the president’s advisor Said Bouteflika .