Algerian army chief of staff Lt. Gen. Ahmed Kayed Saleh said on Sunday that he described the gang as an outsider, vowing that the army would fail its plans, while the justice minister announced public trials of officials accused of corruption.
"Algeria is free and independent in its decision and does not accept any interference or dictation," Qaid Saleh said during a visit to the Air Force Command on Wednesday in Algiers.
He stressed that "the Algerian people will fail attempts to fragment the gang, which after the failure of all plans resort to resort to outsiders."
Meanwhile, Algerian Justice Minister Belkacem Zghmati announced on Wednesday the first public trial of businessmen and former officials jailed for corruption on December 2.
State television quoted Zghmati as saying the trial involved businessmen and officials involved in corruption cases involving the import and assembly of cars in the country.
Amazing facts
He explained that the trial sessions will be "public", without mentioning that they will be transmitted directly through television channels.
He added that "Algerians will be amazed by the facts revealed by this trial," referring to the large volume of corruption recorded in this case. The minister did not mention the names of those detained in connection with the cases referred to.
After the resignation of former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika last April against the backdrop of a popular uprising supported by the army, dozens of businessmen and senior officials were imprisoned during his reign, including former prime ministers Ahmed Ouyahia and Abdelmalek Sellal.
The temporary prison came after the judiciary opened investigations into corruption cases during the last phase, including the file of opening factories assembling cars with imported spare parts, which officials say was a way to smuggle foreign currency abroad.