Madani Mezrag: our support to Bouteflika is conditional

The former national leader of the so-called the Salvation Islamic Army Madani Mezrag said the dissolved-party’s leaders are ready to give Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika a new chance provided he publically commits to save the country from the national crisis.

“The Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) will support the candidate president provided that he commits to make a constitutional amendment to found a real democratic state and creates the position of vice-president for a trustful man like former head of government Mouloud Hamrouche,” Mezrag told Echorouk on the phone.

“The door is still open. Yet, Bouteflika did not keep his promises during his three terms. I respect him but he should better withdraw from the race because he needs mental and physical capacities,” he added.

Mezrag also said there are intensive contacts with Algeria’s former head of government Ali Benflis to reach a “consensus” between the parties of the crisis which resulted from the ban on the electoral process in Algeria in 1991.

“We are waiting for someone who presents an offer to save Algeria. This can only be done by examining the National Reconciliation issue clearly and publically.”