Algerian Defense Ministry Denies Fleeing of General to Switzerland

A view of an empty street, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Algiers, Algeria March 25, 2020. REUTERS/Ramzi Boudina/File Photo
A view of an empty street, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Algiers, Algeria March 25, 2020. REUTERS/Ramzi Boudina/File Photo
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Algerian Defense Ministry Denies Fleeing of General to Switzerland

A view of an empty street, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Algiers, Algeria March 25, 2020. REUTERS/Ramzi Boudina/File Photo
A view of an empty street, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Algiers, Algeria March 25, 2020. REUTERS/Ramzi Boudina/File Photo

The Algerian Ministry of National Defence denounced on Wednesday ‘allegations’ by some opposition parties abroad that a senior officer from the army asked for political asylum in Switzerland.

Some individuals ran off abroad who indulge in disinformation and defamation, disseminated false information conceived in their imagination claiming that the Major General Meftah Souab, previous Commander of the 2nd Military Region was on the run in one of the European countries and that he was prosecuted in Algeria.

The Ministry of National Defense issued a statement on its website saying: "The Ministry categorically denies these allegations spread by these pseudo-journalists, who are, themselves prosecuted by Algerian justice and are on the run abroad.

"The Ministry of National Defense would like to point out that the Major General Meftah Souab has received support from the health and social services of the Ministry of National Defense, for medical care at one of the hospitals in a European country since February 2020, and that he never left this hospital for treatment in another country until his return to Algeria, August 4, 2020, after his doctors advised him to continue his medical treatment at the Central Hospital of the Army."

The Ministry strongly condemned such practices and said take appropriate legal measures to prosecute these individuals.

In another development, son of former late Algerian President Mohamed Boudiaf demanded ‘serious investigation’ into the assassination of his father – more than 28 years ago.

Boudiaf's son addressed Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in a letter on Wednesday and demanded a thorough investigation to reach the truth. He added that the death of his father wasn’t a mystery, but a premeditated crime,

On June 29 of 1992, Boudiaf was shot dead as he delivered a speech in Annaba (600 kilometers away from the capital).



Biden: Joseph Aoun is ‘First-Rate Guy’

FILE - President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool, File)
FILE - President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool, File)
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Biden: Joseph Aoun is ‘First-Rate Guy’

FILE - President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool, File)
FILE - President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool, File)

US President Joe Biden welcomed the election of Joseph Aoun as Lebanon's president on Thursday, saying in a statement that the army chief was the “right leader” for the country.

“President Aoun has my confidence. I believe strongly he is the right leader for this time,” said Biden, adding that Aoun would provide “critical leadership” in overseeing an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire.

Aoun's election by Lebanese lawmakers ended a more than two-year vacancy and could mark a step towards lifting the country out of financial meltdown.

“We finally have a president,” Biden said later, at the end of a meeting on the response to major wildfires in the US city of Los Angeles.

He said he had spoken to Aoun by phone on Thursday for “20 minutes to half an hour,” describing the Lebanese leader as a “first-rate guy.”

Biden pledged to continue US support for Lebanon’s security forces, and for Lebanon’s recovery and reconstruction, the White House said in a readout of Biden’s call with Aoun.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Aoun's election “a moment of historic opportunity,” which offered Lebanon a chance to “establish durable peace and stability.”

Aoun, who turned 61 on Friday, faces the difficult task of overseeing the fragile ceasefire with Israel in south Lebanon.

Separately, Biden spoke about the hostage talks between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

“We’re making some real progress,” he told reporters at the White House, adding that he had spoken with US negotiators earlier Thursday.

“I know hope springs eternal, but I’m still hopeful that we’ll be able to have a prisoner exchange.”

Biden added: “Hamas is the one getting in the way of that exchange right now, but I think we may be able to get that done. We need to get it done.”