The powerful head of the Algerian army, General Mohamed Lamari, resigned on Tuesday, officially on grounds of illness, in a move observers saw as strengthening the position of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
As rumours about the future of Lamari, seen as the regime's real strongman, swirled round Algiers Tuesday a presidential statement said that he had submitted his resignation to Bouteflika "for reasons of health" and it had been accepted.
Bouteflika, who also holds the defence ministry portfolio, named General Salah Ahmed Gaid, commander of ground forces and an ally, to replace Lamari as military chief of staff, a statement from the president's office said.