ALGIERS, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Security services in Algeria on Saturday arrested a number of former senior intelligence officials, local media reported.

The arrested officials include Mohamed Medien (alias Toufik) and Bachir Tartag, two former intelligence chiefs, and Said Bouteflika, brother of former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, quoting security sources, TSA news website reported.

The three officials were accused publicly by Army Chief of Staff Ahmed Gaid Salah of plotting schemes against the army and the nation to thwart the popular protest movement that erupted across Algeria to demand political change.

Toufik served as Algeria's intelligence boss from 1990 to 2015.

Tartag is considered as close member of the presidential clan. He resigned as chief of intelligence on April 2, the same day of former President Bouteflika's resignation.

Said Bouteflika took advantage of the illness of President Bouteflika to take key decisions that harmed the nation's interests, Salah said.

Algerians have been protesting since Feb 22 across the country to demand the departure of the regime.

The military institution pledged to work for meeting the people's aspirations, as a series of arrests were launched against several prominent state and military officials as well as businessmen, who are prosecuted over corruption charges. Enditem

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