Former Algerian president Liamine Zeroual dies
Born on July 3, 1941, in the eastern city of Batna, Zeroual served in Algeria's National Liberation Army (FLN), which fought for independence from French rule.
Former Algerian president Liamine Zeroual during a Group of 15 three-day summit in Cairo in May 1998. The former soldier who served as the country's president from 1994 to 1999 passed away on Sunday at the age of 84. (AFP File)
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ALGIERS — Algeria announced three days of national mourning on Sunday after the death of 84-year-old Liamine Zeroual, the former soldier who served as the country's president from 1994 to 1999.
Born on July 3, 1941, in the eastern city of Batna, Zeroual served in Algeria's National Liberation Army (FLN), which fought for independence from French rule.
After leading a transitional administration during a later civil war, Zeroual organised the country's first multi-party presidential election in 1995, winning by a wide margin.
In 1998, however, he unexpectedly cut short his five-year term, making way for Abdelaziz Bouteflika to succeed him and run the country for 20 years.
Zeroual remained respected in retirement. Algeria's presidency said he had died at a military hospital in Algiers after a serious illness and that flags would fly at half-mast across the country.