LOC21:11
18:11 GMT
(With photos)
ALGIERS, April 8 (KUNA) -- Algerian President Abdulaziz Bouteflika will
unveil changes to the constitution soon, Prime Minister Ahmad Ouyahia
announced Friday.
"The main principles and the republic and the constitution will be
enshrined in the planned amendments," Ouyahia, also secretary-general of the
ruling National Democratic Rally (RND), said in a press conference here.
He noted that president Bouteflika did not consult with the political
parties about the amendments or the political, economic and social reforms.
Ouyahia denied speculations that the package of reforms and constitutional
amendments resulted from recent popular protests, saying his government worked
on the reforms and changes several months ago.
"The Algerian authorities did not give in to pressures whether internal or
external. The fact that President Bouteflika announced a reform package after
the January protests does not mean that status of the state has waned," the
prime minister made clear.
He noted that some domestic and foreign hostile forces sough to foment
tension but, to the contrary, the authorities managed to tackle the protests
wisely in a way that prevented bloodshed.
He echoed earlier remarks that the country faced no political crisis,
adding that the whole matter is that "there are legitimate social demands we
are working on gradually." (end)
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