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The Algerian army chief warned the protesters against the call to a "civil and non-military state", denouncing this request as being organized by "traitors".
"These are toxic ideas that have been dictated to them [protesters] by hostile circles to Algeria and its constitutional institutions, "said General Ahmed Gaid Salah on Wednesday during a speech in Algiers.
The 79-year-old's comments come just days after the country's Independence Day celebration, during which tens of thousands of protesters marched for a twentieth consecutive week to demand removal. collaborators of former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
Veteran of the war of independence, Bouteflika's decision in February to stand for a fifth consecutive term despite his precarious state of health triggered a wave of unprecedented street protests against the National Liberation Front (FLN), in power since 1962.
Gaid Salah, formerly considered a member of Bouteflika's inner circle and initially a supporter of the president's candidacy for re-election of the president, returned to the troubled leader at the end of March and demanded his resignation .
After Bouteflika left on April 2 and in order to appease protesters, Gaid Salah vowed to crack down on government officials and prominent businessmen suspected of corruption.
On Wednesday, Gaid Salah reaffirmed his support for the offer of Acting President Abdelkader Bensalah to hold a national dialogue conference in order to come out of the current political crisis.
"We consider that the presidential elections are essential to the construction of a strong state (…), a state that the army command is determined to achieve despite the obstacles encountered," said Gaid Salah.
Last week, Bensalah offered to host "neutral" talks, in which neither the government nor the military would take part, to help pave the way for elections.
Activists and opposition leaders said they could not participate in the elections with the remains of the old guard still in power, including Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui and Bensalah.
"Gaid Salah represents the voice of the military junta that has always ruled the country," said Algerian badyst Zine Labidine Ghebouli.
"This junta has regained its repressive methods when it felt that its political privileges were under threat, including intimidation," Ghebouli added, referring to the arrest of several critics of Gaid Salah, including war veteran Lakhdar Bouregaa.
"They are pushing for elections to regenerate the civilian facade and it is now clear that they will make no further concessions."
Last month, Gaid Salah called opponents of the country's enemies enemies after the protesters rejected the army's proposed road map, which provided for compliance with the constitution in force. and the temporary maintenance of Bouteflika loyalists.
A vote already deferred, scheduled for July 4, was canceled after the rejection of the only two nominations submitted.
The 90-day interim presidency of Bensalah ended on Tuesday. A new date for the election has not yet been announced.
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