Word: bendjedid
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After wresting independence from France in 1962, Algeria established itself as an exemplar of Third World socialism, often criticizing U.S. foreign policy and breaking diplomatic ties with Washington during the 1967 Six-Day War. While Algeria renewed relations with the U.S. seven years later, it is Colonel Chadli Bendjedid, President since 1979, who has launched his country on a more moderate course. Last week Bendjedid became the first Algerian leader to make a state visit...
...Bendjedid's red-carpet welcome reflected Algeria's increasing importance to the Reagan Administration. With ties to both radical and moderate Arabs, Algeria could help revive Middle East peace negotiations. During a 90-minute White House meeting, the President agreed with Bendjedid that Palestinians should take part in any peace process but reiterated the condition that the P.L.O. be left out. The U.S. also hopes Algeria can help negotiate the release of five captive Americans, kidnaped by militant groups in Lebanon in the past 14 months...
...concluding round of parliamentary elections, proving that it could move peacefully from one-party socialist rule to a pluralist state, the country's military was putting the finishing touches on a bloodless coup d'etat. Last Thursday, just five days after the army forced the resignation of President Chadli Bendjedid, provoking the dissolution of parliament and cancellation of the elections that had promised to hand Muslim fundamentalists a legislative majority, Mohammed Boudiaf was sworn in as head of a military-backed, five-member Council of State. Boudiaf has splendid credentials -- he is nonpartisan and a hero of Algeria...
...least likely scenario is that Algeria's three main parties will sit idle and permit the Council of State to serve out the two remaining years of Bendjedid's aborted five-year term. There is also no guarantee that the army rank and file, more than half of whom are draftees, will support the military leadership. French Arabist Francois Burgat predicts that the army maneuver will be viewed as an attempt by a select group of officers to hold on to their privileges while Algeria sinks further into economic decay. "I would not be surprised to see factions...
...economy's performance than the zeal of the newly seated fundamentalists. In 1991 inflation ran at a rate of 100%, and almost a quarter of the labor force is now out of work. Oil and gas revenues will decline if the fundamentalists scare off Algeria's European clients. Bendjedid recently implemented financial reforms aimed at wooing foreign funds. If democracy continues to flower, investment will be forthcoming, opening up new jobs and industries. But if daily life does not improve for the country's 26 million residents, Algerians may mistake fundamentalism for a panacea and sign...