Algerian Police Arrest Former Prez Bouteflika’s Brother, Two Past Intelligence Chiefs

Algerian police arrested Said Bouteflika, the youngest brother of recently-ousted president Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Two former intelligence chiefs, Bachir Athmane Tartag and Mohamed Mediene, were also detained, according to Ennahar TV. Police did not provide further details, although local media reported that all three will appear in military court on Sunday. Said Bouteflika became Algeria’s de facto ruler after Abdelaziz in 2013 suffered a stroke that left him confined to a wheelchair and largely out of the public eye. The former president officially resigned on April 2 following months of mass protests calling for regime change. Abdelkader Bensalah, leader of Algeria’s upper house of parliament, has taken over as interim president until elections are held on July 4. Demonstrators have nevertheless continued to demand that all members of the former administration relinquish power, including Bensalah and Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui. On May 3, hundreds of thousands of people took to streets in the capital Algiers chanting, “you [the regime] must go.”