Algerian Interior Minister Noureddine Badawi has confirmed the death of the son of the first president of the post-independence government, Youssef Ben Khadah, during a march in Algiers on Friday to reject the nomination of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika for a fifth term.
Badawi said in an interview on Saturday that he opened an investigation to reveal the reasons and circumstances of the death of the demonstrator yesterday, offering his condolences to the family of the deceased. "We would like to thank the spirit of the late Hassan bin Khadah, the son of the revolutionary revolutionist Yusuf bin Khaddah, who died on Friday night," he said.
For his part, Salim, the brother of the deceased, in a publication on the social networking site (Facebook), today blamed the regime for what happened to his brother, saying: "The family carries the ruling gang and Baltjtha shed blood brother and we will take the necessary measures for punishment."
The brother of the deceased to the funeral of the body today to his final resting place after the Asr prayer.
The General Directorate of National Security announced yesterday that 57 policemen and seven citizens were injured by the police, as well as the arrest of 45 people, five of them near the Algerian International Hotel, against the backdrop of mass demonstrations that went out to demand the departure of Bouteflika and his regime.
Hassan was the son of Joseph Ben Khadah, one of the leaders of the revolution against French colonialism (1954-1962) and the first president of the provisional government after independence in 1962, who died in 2003.
On 28 August 1961, the late Ben Khadah was appointed interim President of the interim government, replacing Farhat Abbas. He left on September 27, 1962, to withdraw from politics and then pursue his pharmacy career.
On 10 February, Bouteflika announced his candidacy for the next presidential election on April 18 in response to appeals from his supporters, pledging to Algerians to hold a conference to agree on deep reforms if he wins.
Since then, the country has witnessed a popular movement and calls for Bouteflika to step down, with several professional groups of lawyers, journalists and students.