The arrest of an elderly “war hero” has caused an outcry in Algeria. Lakhdar Bouregaa, a veteran who fought in the country’s war of independence with France, was arrested on Saturday by security services for “insulting the military”.
Mr Bouregaa recently criticised Ahmed Gaid Salad, the army chief of staff who is also considered to be the de facto leader of Algeria.
He said Mr Salad “has been for years promoting Bouteflika’s regime” and that the Algerian government had “never been legitimate since the independence in 1962 up to now”.
The 86-year-old soldier has been a long-time critic of Algeria’s now-ousted former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
Source: Fiilafmonline/BBC
