Algeria conducts unprecedented reforms in judiciary

ALGIERS, Algeria

Algerian Minister of Justice Belkacem Zeghmati said on Thursday that the country's judiciary has witnessed an unprecedented changes which include rotation and relocation of around 3,000 judges.

His statement came during a session of the Algerian High Judiciary Council.

Following the session, the Council issued a statement, approving these changes.

"These changes are based on objective and pre-determined criteria," Zeghmati said.

The aim of these changes are to correct and reform what he described as "bad and disgraceful practices in the Judiciary over the past decades," he added.

Zeghmati was appointed in July as justice minister, almost three months after the resignation of Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who had stayed in power for 20 years.

*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara

ALGIERS, Algeria

Algerian Minister of Justice Belkacem Zeghmati said on Thursday that the country's judiciary has witnessed an unprecedented changes which include rotation and relocation of around 3,000 judges.

His statement came during a session of the Algerian High Judiciary Council.

Following the session, the Council issued a statement, approving these changes.

"These changes are based on objective and pre-determined criteria," Zeghmati said.

The aim of these changes are to correct and reform what he described as "bad and disgraceful practices in the Judiciary over the past decades," he added.

Zeghmati was appointed in July as justice minister, almost three months after the resignation of Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who had stayed in power for 20 years.

*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara