By Lamine Chikhi and Hamid Ould Ahmed
ALGIERS (Reuters) - Algeria's army should take responsibility for finding a quick solution to its political crisis, its chief of staff said on Monday, in the most overt signal of potential military intervention since mass demonstrations erupted three weeks ago.
President Abdelaziz Bouteflika bowed to demonstrators last week by announcing that he had reversed a decision to stand for another term. But he stopped short of stepping down and postponed elections, effectively extending his current term until a new constitution can be prepared.
So far, the powerful army has remained in barracks during the demonstrations, with the security forces mainly monitoring mostly peaceful demonstrations in Algiers and other cities.
"The army will remain a fortified fortress for the country," the chief of staff, Lieutenant-General Ahmed Gaed Salah, said on state TV. "We should be responsible for finding solutions as soon as possible. There is no problem without solution."
He added: "I’m confident the Algerian people are wise and able to overcome all difficulties."
Bouteflika, 82, has ruled for two decades but has rarely been seen in public since suffering a stroke five years ago. Demonstrators say he is no fit health to run the country and want to see a new generation of leadership tackle deep-seated economic problems and corruption.
The army has generally wielded power in Algeria behind the scenes, but has intervened publicly during pivotal moments. In the early 1990s, generals cancelled elections which an Islamist party was set to win, triggering almost a decade of civil war that killed some 200,000 people.
NO LET UP
Bouteflika's concessions last week have brought no halt to the demonstrations, which are expected to continue on Tuesday, Algeria's Independence Day holiday. On Monday, doctors called for mass protests during the celebrations.
In a statement, the independent Collective of Algerian Medical Residents (CAMRA) urged medical students to take part and denounce the "ruling gangs".
Protesters are desperate for a new generation of leaders who can tackle the country's pressing problems: a stagnant economy and high unemployment despite vast oil and gas resources.
In another concession, the Ministry of Religious Affairs on Sunday informed clerics that they are no longer required to submit texts of their sermons to authorities for approval. One of the most influential clerics in Algiers expressed his opposition to the government last week.
In Algiers, dozens of workers from the vocational training sector protested, chanting "no to the extension".
Since returning from medical treatment in Switzerland last week, Bouteflika has been losing allies, including senior members of the ruling National Liberation Front party, known by its French acronym FLN.
Bouteflika named a new prime minister last week, but on Monday leaders of 13 independent Algerian labour unions refused to support his efforts to form a cabinet.
"We will not hold discussions with this system, we belong to the people and the people said 'No' to the system," Boualem Amora, a leader of an education union, told reporters.
ADVERTISEMENTNewly-appointed Deputy Prime Minister Ramtane Lamamra is expected to start a tour on Tuesday of some of Algeria's main allies abroad to explain the new political roadmap, said a foreign ministry official. The tour will start on Tuesday with a visit to Moscow, Algeria's most important military ally.
It will also include EU countries and China, which has invested billions of dollars in Algeria, pouring cash into housing and public works projects.
(Writing by Michael Georgy; Editing by Peter Graff)