ALGERIA/FILE: Algerians celebrate on the streets of Algiers after President Abdelaziz Bouteflika leaves French hospital after surgery.

Record ID: 574607

  • Title: ALGERIA/FILE: Algerians celebrate on the streets of Algiers after President Abdelaziz Bouteflika leaves French hospital after surgery.
  • Date: 17th December 2005
  • Summary: (W3) ALGIERS, ALGERIA (FILE - SEPTEMBER 29, 2005) (REUTERS) BOUTEFLIKA ENTERING POLLING STATION AND SHAKING HANDS WITH OFFICIALS DURING REFERENDUM ON CONTROVERSIAL AMNESTY FOR ISLAMIST MILITANTS; BOUTEFLIKA VOTING
  • Embargoed: 1st January 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Health,Obituaries
  • Reuters ID: LVAD8LN0FZT81FI8QLWJYTXVFLYG
  • Story Text: Algerians celebrated on the streets of Algiers on Saturday (December 18) soon after Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika left a French hospital where he underwent surgery for a stomach ulcer during a three-week stay.
    Sounding car horns and waving Algerian Flags, Bouteflika's supporters gave the thumbs up to cameramen as they drove past in a sign of support for their president.
    Bouteflika, seen as a symbol of stability having led his country out of a civil war that lasted more than a decade, was flown to Paris on November 26 and doctors operated after diagnosing a haemorrhagic stomach ulcer.
    About 150,000 people were killed in the conflict which pitted security forces against Islamic militants and erupted after authorities scrapped elections in 1992 which an Islamic party was set to win.
    The agency quoted a medical bulletin issued by doctors at Paris's Val-de-Grace military hospital as saying the 68-year-old president of the North African oil-exporting country had been advised to take complete rest before resuming his full duties.
    A government official told Reuters that the president will return to Algiers 'in a few days time'.
    Asked if Bouteflika, who was re-elected last year for a second five-year term, might return home on Saturday or Sunday, he said: "No, he will rest for a few days."
    Saturday's medical bulletin detailing Bouteflika's condition said his state of health was improving and the prognosis was very good.
    Soon after his release Bouteflika appeared on Algerian state television saying that there was no reason to be worried about his state of health.

    Profiles.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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