Algeria’s Bouteflika hospitalized in France: Reports

A French government source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Bouteflika, ۷۷, was taken into care at a clinic in France’s southeastern city of Grenoble on Thursday, adding that the reason for his new hospitalization is still unknown.

The Algerian government did not confirm the report, but announced that it would issue a statement in the coming hours.

Pictures released by French media showed that the area near the clinic was cordoned off by police.

The Algerian president has been in poor health since 2013, when he suffered a mini-stroke and received 80 days of treatment at a hospital in Paris.

In July 2013, Bouteflika went back to his country as he looked frail in a wheelchair and was not seen in public for months. He travelled back to the French capital for more minor treatments in January.

Earlier this week, Bouteflika met French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius in Algeria’s capital Algiers to discuss bilateral relations.

“He has a small problem with his speech, but intellectually he is working very well,” the top French diplomat said after the meeting on November 10.

Bouteflika, who is a veteran of Algeria’s war of independence against France, has ruled the northwestern African country since 1999.

In April, he managed to win a fourth term as the country’s president. Critics say he is physically unable to lead the country.