Algeria: August 2, 2004

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The military, which has dominated Algerian politics since independence from France in the 1960s, is apparently losing it's grip on power. The army chief of staff abruptly resigned today, amid rumors that the president was going to, for the first time, appoint a civilian to run the ministry of defense. The military domination of the government has been very unpopular with most Algerians, and was the cause of over a decade of terrorism by Islamic radicals. This terror campaign is just about over, but the anger at the corrupt and inept rule of the generals continues.