Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia of Algeria

This picture has been released into the public domain

Some also see Ouyahia 's appointment as an attempt to neutralize him as a serious potential competitor for the presidency, even though Ouyahia has already said he would not run against Bouteflika and that he was favorable to a constitutional amendment to allow Bouteflika to run.

Personal Representative of the Algerian President Ahmed Ouyahia has been named as Prime Minister.

Ouyahia was born in the village of Bouadnane in the Wilaya of Tizi Ouzou in the Kabylie region of Algeria.

Having scored among the top three applicants, along with Ahmed Attaf, Ouyahia joined the Ecole Nationale d'Administration and specialised in Diplomacy.

From 1988 to 1989 Ouyahia was co-representative to the United Nations Security Council.

In August 1993, Ouyahia was called back to Algiers to serve in the government of Redha Malek as Under Secretary of State for African and Arab Affairs.

In December 1995 Ouyahia was nominated Prime Minister and held that position until December 1999, when he resigned following the election of Abdelaziz Bouteflika to the presidency of Algeria.

In 2000 Ouyahia was elected leader of his party, the National Rally for Democracy (RND.

During this time Ouyahia was assigned the task of securing a peace deal in the war between Ethiopia and Eritrea by Bouteflika, who was also President of Organisation for African Unity during the year 2000.

In May 2003, Ouyahia was nominated as Prime Minister for a second time, following a political crisis between President Bouteflika and Prime Minister Ali Benflis, who was dismissed.

Ouyahia was dismissed from his post as prime minister in 2006 amid criticism of his ability to deal with poverty and unemployment.

Ouyahia was due this week to address parliament to defend his political record, but speaker Amar Saadani, a senior FLN official, told the daily al Khabar on Wednesday: We see no necessity for him (Ouyahia) to come to the parliament.

Ouyahia had stood firm in the face of demands by politicians, media and trade unions to raise wages, arguing the economic climate was not healthy enough.

The APNs opening session seems to indicate that Ouyahia is a credible candidate for succession because he is as good as a third Bouteflika term.

Firstly, when Ouyahia was asked about the amendment, his response was that all things come in their own time.

When Ahmed Ouyahia was appointed Prime Minister of Algeria for the third time earlier this summer, it was an important signal for the direction of the country in the next year.

Ouyahia has said repeatedly he will not run against Bouteflika in an election, but he also hasnt denied having an interest in the presidency.

Ouyahia was born in the village of Bouadnane in the Wilayaof Tizi OuzouTizi Ouzou Tizi Ouzou is a major Kabyle town and capital of Tizi Ouzou province, Algeria.

In 1972, Ahmed Ouyahia joined the entry examination for the "Ecole Nationale d'Administration" of Algiers.

Ouyahia joined the Ecole Nationale d'Administration and specialised in Diplomacy.

In 1978 Ouyahia joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was assigned to the African Affairs Department.

From 1988 to 1989 Ouyahia was co-representative to the United Nations Security CouncilUnited Nations Security Council The United Nations Security Council is the organ of the United Nations charged with maintaining peace and security among na.

In August 1993, Ouyahia was called back to Algiers to serve in the government of Redha MalekRedha Malek Redha Malek was Prime Minister of Algeria from August 21, 1993 to April 1994.

In December 1995 Ouyahia was nominated Prime MinisterPrime minister A prime minister is the most senior minister of a cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system.

In 2000 Ouyahia was elected leader of his party, the National Rally for DemocracyNational Rally for Democracy The National Rally for Democracy is a political party in Algeria.

During this time Ouyahia was assigned the task of securing a peace deal in the war between EthiopiaEthiopia Ethiopia, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country situated in the Horn of Africa.

In May 2003, Ouyahia was nominated as Prime Minister for a second time, following a political crisis between President Bouteflika and Prime Minister Ali BenflisAli Benflis Ali Benflis is a politician in Algeria and former Prime Minister from 2000 to 2003.

After some prominent involvement in international diplomatic meetings earlier in 2008, Ouyahia was again named Prime Minister by Bouteflika on June 23 2008.

Ouyahia is very influential and risked becoming Bouteflika's rival as number one if he was not named to an official job, Ghalia said.

He said Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia had reaffirmed the country's solidarity with Palestine and condemned the crimes against humanity perpetrated by Israel.

President of Republic Abdelaziz Bouteflika has made a slight cabinet reshuffle, in which Ahmed Ouyahia has been maintained on the top of Government not as Head of Government, but rather as Prime Minister, in accordance with the recent Constitutional amendments.

An official statement quoted by the Algerian APS news agency said Ouyahia was told by Bouteflika to formulate a plan of action for carrying out the president's policies, which will be voted on by parliament.

Ahmed Ouyahia was born on July 2nd, 1952 in Bouadnane, Tizi Ouzou wilaya.

In 2000 Ouyahia was elected leader of the National Rally for Democracy.

Davoudi and Ouyahia discussed current world situation and weakness of warmongering powers and emergence of financial crisis in the west as an appropriate opportunity for developing ties and underlined that Tehran and Algiers cooperation in all fields should be increased more and more.

Ouyahia is also expected to introduce constitutional reform legislation allowing Bouteflika to run for a third term in 2009, while spearheading attempts to contain hardline Islamic extremist sentiment.

Ouyahia is secretary general of the National Democratic Rally (RND), one of the parties in the governing coalition, which also includes the dominant National Liberation Front (FNL) led by Belkhadem and the Islamist Movement of a Peaceful Society (MSP.

Ouyahia said after his resignation that ‘I have had the opportunity to hand in my resignations as Prime Minister of the Republic and to express my gratitude to the confidence and full support given by the President during my term of three years.

This talk is based on a background where Ouyahia was previously accused of forging the election results of 2007.

Ouyahia had strongly objected to the idea and President Bouteflika –according to sources close to him- understood this as a rejection of his continuation in governance which hastened the process of Ouyahia’s resignations.

Ouyahia has been known in the past for a cut-and-dry stance against Islamic militants, but he also was charged with setting up a policy of national reconciliation voted in a September 2005 referendum.

When Ahmed Ouyahia was appointed Prime Minister of Algeria for the third time earlier this summer, it was an important signal for the.