Assembly speaker to represent Algeria at Arab summit

By Abdel Razek Abdallah

ALGIERS (AA) - President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Friday appointed Abdelkader Bensalah, speaker of Algeria’s Council of the Nation (upper house of parliament), to represent him at Sunday’s Arab League summit in Tunisia.

According to a statement issued by Bouteflika’s office, Ramtane Lamamra, deputy prime minister for foreign affairs, will accompany Bensalah to the summit.

Since 2013, the parliamentary speaker has represented the 82-year-old Bouteflika at Arab League summits due to the latter's generally poor health.

In February, Algeria’s ruling National Liberation Front nominated Bouteflika, who has ruled Algeria since 1999, to run for a fifth presidential term.

On March 11, after weeks of demonstrations against his planned bid for a fifth term, Bouteflika abruptly postponed polls originally slated for April 18.

Since then, however, Algerians across the country -- including capital Algiers -- have continued to demonstrate against Bouteflika, who they accuse of unconstitutionally extending his fourth term in office.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat