Algeria's former counter-terrorism chief jailed in landmark ruling

Algeria's former counter-terrorism chief was sentenced on Thursday to five years in prison for "destroying documents and disobeying military orders", his lawyer said.

Abdelkader Ait-Ouarabi, better known as General Hassan, was tried behind closed doors in a military court in the country's second city, Oran.

The trial was the country's first ever prosecution of a high-ranking secret service officer.

Analysts interpreted his removal as President Abdelaziz Bouteflika consolidating his hold over the intelligence services

Lawyer Khaled Bourayou described the sentence as "retribution", saying his client had "not benefited from extenuating circumstances such as his age, his health and his contribution to the anti-terrorist battle".

Journalists had not been allowed to attend the hearing, even before the judges ordered it to be held behind closed doors.

For two decades, General Hassan had embodied the army's fight against Islamist groups.

He was forcibly retired on the orders of a military judge at the end of 2013 and placed under surveillance, then arrested in August.

Analysts interpreted his removal as President Abdelaziz Bouteflika consolidating his hold over the intelligence services, which some considered a "parallel state" within Algeria.

In September, the president also replaced General Mohamed Mediene (better known as General Toufik) after 25 years at the head of the powerful DRS intelligence agency.

In a statement published in Algerian newspapers on Thursday, General Hassan's lawyers said that he was "a collateral victim of the ferocious clan war being waged at the highest level of politics".

The former general was "one of the valiant officers who saved the country from the perils of terrorism", Bourayou and Ahmed Touphali Tayeb said.

"If he is condemned, what signal will Algeria be sending to all those who - here and worldwide - are waging a relentless battle against internal and transnational terrorism, which has increased in ferocity in recent years?"

Before the trial, lawyer Mokrane Ait-Larbi said the defence team had asked for Mediene, General Hassan's former boss, to appear as a witness.

However, informed sources said that the 74-year-old - once dubbed the "God of Algeria" because of his longtime influence - had not done so.