Nezzar: Generals have nothing to do with political decisions

Former defense minister General Khaled Nezzar denied allegations that the military institution was involved in political power decisions and he would have entered Val-De-Grace hospital where President Bouteflika was treated.

“It would be better to remind that I retired before Abdelaziz Bouteflika had come. I respected my oath that I would leave the political power once the term of the State’s High Council was over in January 1994,” said Nezzar in a letter posted on National Algeria website.

“Senior officers have never been involved in the political power decisions. If that happened, it was upon its request. Because of that, this power has to stop that,” he added.

Speaking about allegations that he was taken to Val-De-Grace hospital, he described them as “rumors and fishing in troubled waters.”

“If Algeria is not experiencing those special circumstances due to the president’s illness and rumors about me, I would not have written to response those trifles,” he added.

He described those allegations as “shooting an ambulance or a room in hospital.”

“My expression freedom is unlimited and is not hindered by anything. So, stop fishing!”