Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Tuesday dismissed Major General Abdelghani Hamel as Director General of National Security Department, the president office said in a statement.
The statement said veteran Colonel Mustapha Lehbiri, former chief of firefighting departement, was appointed as new chief of police, the position Hamel had occupied since 2010.
The statement, however, did not specify the reasons behind such changes on the top of this key security institution.
Observers said this move took place following the recent statements of Hamel to the press criticizing the way the Justice Ministry deals with the investigation on the seizure of 701 kg of cocaine in the western port of Oran earlier this month.
Some media reports said that the personal driver of Hamel is involved in the cocaine case, which Hamel has recurrently denied.
