Tycoons Close to Ousted Algerian President Held on Suspicion of Graft

Algerian police have arrested the country’s wealthiest businessman as well as four brothers, all with close ties to ousted president Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Reports from a privately owned Algerian television station said the arrests were part of a crackdown on alleged graft among prominent figures from the country’s ruling elite. The ailing Bouteflika, 82, was forced to resign after mass protests followed his announcement that he would seek a fifth term despite being largely out of the public eye since a 2013 stroke. His resignation, however, did not mollify the protesters, who are seeking wide constitutional changes and a crackdown against those who leveraged their relationship with Bouteflika into political power or financial wealth. On Saturday, state TV announced that police had summoned Finance Minister Mohamed Loukal and former prime minister Ahmed Ouyahia for questioning in connection with an investigation into alleged misuse of state money. Both are close associates of Bouteflika.