Algerian PM resigns

President Bouteflika has promoted his campaign director

Algeria's Prime Minister, Ahmed Benbitour, has resigned and has been replaced by Ali Benflis, one of the closest advisers of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

Mr Benbitour had been in office since December 1999, when he formed a government consisting of five political parties.

The new premier, who is a lawyer by training, served as justice minister in several Algerian administrations and was appointed to head the presidential office last year after managing Mr Bouteflika's 1999 presidential campaign, Algerian TV said.

No reason has been given for the resignation of Mr Benbitour's government.

Large shake-up

The president's office said that the outgoing prime minister submitted his resignation to the president on Saturday.

Reports say President Bouteflika fired a number of local officials earlier in August as part of a larger shake-up of the Algerian administration.

Most of those fired have faced harsh criticism in the media during the past few weeks for poor management of land and housing, correspondents said.