Algeria: Army chief supports unconditional dialogue

By Abdul Razak bin Abdullah

ALGIERS (AA) – Algeria's Army Chief Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaid Salah on Tuesday rejected preconditions by the opposition that included release of detainees and lifting of censorship etc, while hailing the recently formed dialogue committee.

Last Thursday, the Algerian interim presidency announced a six-member committee of "independent figures" formed in order to supervise sessions of political dialogue towards holding presidential polls in the country as soon as possible.

Speaking at the Defense Ministry Headquarters in Algiers, Gen. Salah emphasized that dialogue must take place without setting any preconditions.

Referring to the demands of opposition to release detainees, lift ban on popular marches and resignation of the military government, the military general said it is out of question to give in to such demands.

He said that his government will continue to perform its duties till the election of new president.

He said only the new president will have full powers to undertake necessary reforms.

In April, Algerian opposition groups had announced plans to boycott presidential polls, earlier scheduled for July 4.

In a joint statement, several leading opposition parties -- including the Development and Justice Party, Al-Nahda and Al-Benaa al-Watani -- described, at the time, the polls “an attempt by the illegitimate authority to replicate itself through false elections".