Algeria's ailing president makes rare appearance

President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, whose ailing health has raised concerns, held talks with Algeria's veteran diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi, national news agency said.

The APS news agency gave no details on yesterday's meeting with Brahimi, who resigned in May from the post as UN-Arab League envoy on the Syrian conflict.

Bouteflika, 77, on Saturday, in a break from tradition, stayed away from public Eid al-Adha prayers marking the end of the annual haj pilgrimage to Mecca.

But in another rare appearance since his re-election in April to serve a fourth term, Bouteflika chaired a September 21 meeting on border security.