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
TT

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).



Lebanon's PM Says Country to Begin Disarming South Litani to Ensure State Presence

President Joseph Aoun met with PM Najib Mikati at Baabda palace. (NNA)
President Joseph Aoun met with PM Najib Mikati at Baabda palace. (NNA)
TT

Lebanon's PM Says Country to Begin Disarming South Litani to Ensure State Presence

President Joseph Aoun met with PM Najib Mikati at Baabda palace. (NNA)
President Joseph Aoun met with PM Najib Mikati at Baabda palace. (NNA)

Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Friday that the state will begin disarming southern Lebanon, particularly the south Litani region, to establish its presence across the country.
"We are in a new phase - in this new phase, we will start with south Lebanon and south Litani specifically in order to pull weapons so that the state can be present across Lebanese territory," Mikati said.

Mikati's remarks followed a meeting with newly elected President Joseph Aoun at the Baabda Presidential Palace. Aoun was elected as the country's new head of state by parliament on Thursday, ending a vacancy in the presidency that had persisted for over two years.

In his address to parliament, Aoun pledged to control weapons outside the state's control, saying the government is the sole entity authorized to possess and use military force and weapons.
A ceasefire agreement that ended the 13-month-conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in November has given the Lebanese party 60 days to end its armed presence in southern Lebanon, while Israeli forces are also required to withdraw from the area over the same period.
The ceasefire agreement says Israeli forces will move south of the Blue Line “in a phased manner” within 60 days. The Lebanese army’s troops will deploy “in parallel” to the positions.