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SV INT New Algerian Government ministers entering room and taking seats, Algiers, Algeria
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SV President Houari Boumedienne, PAN TO Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdelaziz Bouteflika
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SVs Ministers seated (2 shots)
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SV Boumedienne presiding over meeting
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Initials OS



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Background: In Algeria, President Houari Boumedienne's new government met for the first time on Tuesday (3 May). It contains 17 new ministers and inaugurates what the President has called an "era of efficient management".

SYNOPSIS: Details of the restructured Algerian government were announced last month, following Presidential and legislative elections, after the adoption by referendum of a national charter and a new constitution for the country. The previous government had remained basically unchanged since 1965.

President Boumedienne presided over the first meeting of his new government. The former Ministry of Industry and Energy has been split into three new ministries and Agriculture has been divided between two ministries and two state secretaries. However the veteran politician Abdelaziz Bouteflika remains as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Algeria is a Democratic and Popular Republic. In December last year President Boumedienne received an almost unanimous vote of approval for the adoption of the new constitution.