Yesterday, Algerian state television announced the death of the influential army chief of staff, Lieutenant-General Ahmed Qayed Saleh, a pillar of power in Algeria since 1962, at the age of 79, as a result of a heart attack.

And Qaid Saleh was the strong man in the state, since the resignation of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in April, under the pressure of demonstrations, and effectively governing the country until the election of Abdel Majid Taboun as president on December 12.

And the presenter of the "Algeria 3" channel told the official television, while reading a statement by the Presidency of the Republic, that "the Deputy Minister of Defense, Chief of Staff of the Army, died on Monday morning of a heart attack."

The television pointed out that the President of the Republic and Minister of Defense, Abdel Majeed Taboun, declared a three-day national mourning in the country, and for seven days in the military.

The President of Tabun assigned Major-General Saeed Shanqrihah, the Commander of the Ground Forces, to serve as the acting army chief of staff, to succeed Lieutenant General Qaid Saleh.

Currently, Shanqrihah commands the ground forces in Algeria and was the commander of the third military side, which oversees the southwestern region of Algeria.