Algeria's president sacks police chief

Algeria’s President Abdelaziz Bouteflika yesterday sacked police chief Major General Abdel Ghani Hamel, who is regarded as one of his top aides, in a sudden decision, according to a presidential decree.

“Bouteflika signed two decrees. The first decree dismisses the National Police Chief Abdelghani Hamel and the second appoints Mustapha El-Habiri to this position,” Algeria Press Service quoted a source as saying.

Hamel is a former army major general appointed as police chief in 2010 after the assassination of his predecessor Ali Tounsi in his office by one of his assistants.

Prior to his appointment as police chief, Hamel served for years as the commander of the Republican Guard.

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