President Abdelaziz Bouteflika is 'doing well' despite health scare

The National Liberation Front in Algeria says President Abdelaziz Bouteflika is doing well and is carrying out his engagements as usual.

This is despite a health scare last week that forced him to postpone a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

According to the statement released by the Algerian presidency, President Bouteflika was temporarily unavailable because he was suffering from “acute bronchitis”.

Over the past decade, the 79-year-old leader has had persistent health issues leading to several periods in hospital.

He suffered a mini-stroke in 2013 and has since appeared in public on only a handful of occasions, entertaining foreign guests at his home in Zeralda west of the capital.

The socialist political party has however indicated that his health is improving even mentioning a possible fifth term in office in 2019.