Algerian President (and Minister of Defense) Abdulaziz Bouteflika has suddenly dismissed nine senior officers and reassigned seven others. The nine dismissed officers include five of the six military region chiefs and the commanders of the presidential guard, navy, reserve, and gendarmerie. No reason was given for the move, and three key officers (Chief of Staff Lamari and the heads of military intelligence and counter-intelligence) kept their jobs.--Stephen V Cole