born July 3, 1941, Batna, Alg.
President of Algeria (1994–99).
After a military education, he rose through the ranks to become chief of land forces in 1989 and defense minister in 1993. In 1994 he was appointed transitional president by the military-dominated High Council of State, which had taken over the government after elections were canceled in 1992 and Pres. Mohamed Boudiaf was assassinated. Elected for a full term in 1995, he was replaced in 1999 by Abdelaziz Bouteflika.