Merkel’s Algeria visit postponed

GERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel’s visit to Algiers was called off yesterday because President Abdelaziz Bouteflika was unavailable due to bronchitis, his office said.

“Algerian and German authorities have mutually agreed to postpone the official visit of Merkel,” the presidency said in a statement.

“This postponement is due to the fact that Mr Bouteflika, who is at his residence in Algiers, is temporarily unavailable due to acute bronchitis,” it said.

Merkel had been due to arrive in the capital yesterday evening