General Gaid Salah was seen as Algeria's de facto strongman following the April resignation of longtime president Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
"The deputy defence minister and chief of staff of the army died Monday morning of a heart attack," said the presidency in a statement Monday, read out by a presenter on state news channelPresident Abdelmadjid Tebboune declared three days of national mourning and appointed land forces commander General Said Chengriha as interim military chief of staff.
The lifelong military man played a key role pushing through December 12 presidential elections for Bouteflika's replacement, defying a months-long protest movement that has demanded deep-rooted political reforms before any poll.As chief of Algeria's military for a record 15 years and a veteran of Algeria's war for independence, the general was seen as the guardian of the military-dominated system that has been in power since.
He had supported Bouteflika for years until the president's February announcement that he would run for re-election sparked unprecedented demonstrations.
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