Pro-Bouteflika Parties Criticized Over Demanding Referendum

Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika (seated) holds his ballot during the presidential election in Algiers April 17, 2014. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra
Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika (seated) holds his ballot during the presidential election in Algiers April 17, 2014. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra
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Pro-Bouteflika Parties Criticized Over Demanding Referendum

Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika (seated) holds his ballot during the presidential election in Algiers April 17, 2014. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra
Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika (seated) holds his ballot during the presidential election in Algiers April 17, 2014. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

The Movement of Society for Peace (MSP) – an opposition party in Algeria, has expressed frustration over pro-former Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika parties calling for a referendum on amending the constitution.

Minister of Communication Ammar Belhimer, for his part, convened with official media to discuss the promotion plan for the constitution draft that will be submitted to a referendum in weeks.

Abdul Razzaq Muqri, the Head of the MSP, criticized Sunday pro-Bouteflika parties expressing support to Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, saying that the quota system in the parliament has disrupted political work.

in addition, he noted that the figures and loyalists of Bouteflika were returning to the political scene in the country.

Muqri was hinting at a meeting that was held by a leader from the Democratic National Alliance and attended by several activists who were urging Bouteflika to run for a fifth candidacy. During the meeting, the constitution bill was discussed in addition to the promotion plan and the mobilization of university students, women, and farmers.

Notably, the Assembly was led by former Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia who was sentenced 15 years in prison for corruption. A month ago, Tayeb Zitouni who showed support to Tebboune’s policies became in charge.

In a related context, the Minister of Communication met on Saturday directors of the government newspapers to provide them with a thorough explanation of the key axes of the constitution amendment bill.

Belhimer affirmed that the ministry’s role in publicity was restricted to providing logistics.



Hamas Expects 'Real Progress' in Cairo Talks to End Gaza War

 Palestinians make their way with belongings as they flee areas in the eastern part of Gaza City, after the Israeli army issued evacuation orders, in Gaza City, April 11, 2025. (Reuters)
Palestinians make their way with belongings as they flee areas in the eastern part of Gaza City, after the Israeli army issued evacuation orders, in Gaza City, April 11, 2025. (Reuters)
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Hamas Expects 'Real Progress' in Cairo Talks to End Gaza War

 Palestinians make their way with belongings as they flee areas in the eastern part of Gaza City, after the Israeli army issued evacuation orders, in Gaza City, April 11, 2025. (Reuters)
Palestinians make their way with belongings as they flee areas in the eastern part of Gaza City, after the Israeli army issued evacuation orders, in Gaza City, April 11, 2025. (Reuters)

Hamas expects "real progress" towards a ceasefire deal to end the war in Gaza, an official said, as senior leaders from the Palestinian movement hold talks with Egyptian mediators in Cairo on Saturday.

The meeting between Hamas and Egyptian mediators come amid ongoing violence in Gaza, as the Israeli military intercepted three projectiles fired from the territory and launched air strikes and artillery shelling on several areas. No injuries were reported, the military said in a statement.

The scheduled talks in Cairo also come days after US President Donald Trump suggested an agreement to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza was close to being finalized.

A Hamas official told AFP that the Palestinian group anticipated the meeting with Egyptian mediators would yield significant progress.

"We hope the meeting will achieve real progress towards reaching an agreement to end the war, halt the aggression and ensure the full withdrawal of occupation forces from Gaza," the official familiar with the ceasefire negotiations told AFP on condition of anonymity, as he was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

The delegation will be led by the group's chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, he said.

According to the official, Hamas has not yet received any new ceasefire proposals, despite Israeli media reports suggesting that Israel and Egypt had exchanged draft documents outlining a potential ceasefire and hostage release agreement.

"However, contacts and discussions with mediators are ongoing," he added, accusing Israel of "continuing its aggression" in Gaza.

The Times of Israel reported that Egypt's proposal would involve the release of eight living hostages and eight bodies, in exchange for a truce lasting between 40 and 70 days and a substantial release of Palestinian prisoners.

President Trump said during a cabinet meeting this week that "we're getting close to getting them (hostages in Gaza) back".

Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff was also quoted in an Israeli media report as saying "a very serious deal is taking shape, it's a matter of days".

Israel resumed its Gaza strikes on March 18, ending a two-month ceasefire with Hamas.

Since then, more than 1,500 people have been killed, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory to which Israel cut off aid more than a month ago.

Dozens of these strikes have killed "only women and children," according to a report by UN human rights office.

The report also warned that expanding Israeli evacuation orders were resulting in the "forcible transfer" of people into ever-shrinking areas, raising "real concern as to the future viability of Palestinians as a group in Gaza".

On Saturday, Israel continued with its offensive.

Gaza's civil defense agency reported an Israeli air strike on a house in Gaza City on Saturday morning.

AFP footage of the aftermath of the strike showed the bodies of four men, wrapped in white shrouds, at a local hospital, while several individuals gathered to offer prayers before the funeral.

The Israeli military, meanwhile, said its air force intercepted three projectiles that were identified as crossing into Israeli territory from southern Gaza on Saturday.

The ceasefire that ended on March 17 had led to the release of 33 hostages from Gaza -- eight of them deceased -- and the release of around 1,800 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

The war in Gaza broke out after Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. It resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

Militants also took 251 hostages, 58 of whom are still held in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.

Gaza's health ministry said on Friday that at least 1,563 Palestinians had been killed since March 18 when the ceasefire collapsed, taking the overall death toll since the war began to 50,933.