Thousands of Algerians gathered on Wednesday for the funeral procession of the country’s powerful army chief, who fought for independence from France as a young man and this year became the country’s de facto leader.
Lt Gen Ahmed Gaed Salah died of a heart attack on Monday aged 79, having determined the state’s response to mass protests throughout this year calling for a wholesale change of the ruling elite.
“He did the right thing when he secured the millions who marched in the past 10 months demanding change,” said Abdesselam Selami, 52, a telecoms worker speaking to Reuters by phone from the capital’s Palais de Peuple. “Zero killed.”
As the protests reached their peak in April, Lt Gen Gaed Salah called for the veteran president, his longtime ally Abdelaziz Bouteflika, to step down, prompting his resignation soon after.
Although an interim president was appointed, Lt Gen Gaed Salah was widely seen as holding the reins. He did not attempt to crush the peaceful protests with violence, but many demonstrators saw him as the main obstacle in their path.
He pushed for an election to replace Bouteflika, a vote the protesters regarded as a charade, as the real power would remain with the army.
Global News 
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