Algerian Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ahmed Gaid Salah on Monday called for the election of a new president as soon as possible to meet the demands of the people.

A consensus should be reached by "comprehensive dialogue between political class, civil society and national figures" in order to elect a person "capable of leading the country, and ultimately meeting the popular demands for change," Gaid Salah, also the country's deputy defense minister, said during his visit to the 3rd Military Region of the southernmost province of Bechar.

Commenting on the ongoing anti-corruption campaign against officials and businessmen, he said the army supports "the right decisions against the wrongdoers whatever their status is."

"There is no limit to the scope of the fight against corruption until Algeria gets rid of it," the army chief of staff noted.

The current anti-corruption campaign in Algeria comes as popular protests denounce bad governance and dirty money in the North African country.

Two former Algerian Prime Ministers Ahmed Ouyahia and Abdelmalek Sellal, along with several businessmen, are now held in custody over the charges of corruption, abuse of power and squandering public funds.

Xinhua