Nezzar: army did not plan to ban electoral process in Algeria

Retired General Khaled Nezzar said the Algerian army did not plan to ban the electoral process in 1992 and only cared about the country’s stability, in response to former leader of the dissolved-Islamic Salvation Front Madani Mezrag.

Nezzar said he was busy by solving the crisis following Afghan Islamists’ victory over the Soviet Union.

“Politicians held secret talks which targeted Algeria’s future. Madani Mezrag and Ahmed Taleb Ibrahimi assigned Bendjedid’s brother in law to convey the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS)’s proposals to Chadli,” said Algeria’s former defense minister on his website.

“At that time, we tried to make sure that the talks are held calmly. We were totally aware of the Algerian society’s big balances. We did not have any intention to exclude any party although political Islam was armed and marketed to Algerians,” he added.

“I personally sent Mohamed Betchine who is still alive to the FIS’ consultative council members to know their wisdom in dealing with those events.”

Nezzar said the army knew that the FIS would win the third of voices in the second round. “We wanted the new leaders to not make the same errors of the unique party FLN.”

He described Mezrag’s remarks as “incorrect” because the army focused on transparent, free and honest elections.