Algeria’s embattled president names new government

Algeria’s long-serving President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who has been facing mass protests against his rule for more than a month, has appointed a new government.The government, headed by Noureddine Bedoui, is composed of 27 ministers, Algeria’s state news agency APS reported on Sunday, citing a presidential statement.Six members of the former government have kept their posts in the new cabinet, according to the agency.Bouteflika, 82, has maintained his position as defence minister in the caretaker government, despite protests demanding he step down.He has also kept as military chief of staff the powerful General Gaid Saleh, who earlier this week called for Bouteflika to be declared unfit for office on health grounds.Sabri Boukadoum, Algeria’s ambassador to the United Nations, has been appointed foreign minister; and Mohamed Loukal, the governor of the central bank, as finance minister, according to the agency.Earlier this month, Bouteflika appointed Bedoui, a former interior minister, as prime minister after the ailing president renounced a bid to run for a fifth term in office after mass street protests.