Algeria’s Ex-Industry Minister Yousfi Held on Graft Charges

ALGIERS - Algeria’s former industry minister Youcef Yousfi was reportedly arrested on Wednesday in a sprawling corruption probe that has swept the North African country since its president was deposed in spring.Yousfi, who served as minister of industry and mines from 2017 until March 2019, was accused of "squandering" public funds, abuse of power and influence peddling, the APS news agency reported.Corruption probe was opened into two former prime ministers, security and spy chief and other senior officials in the government of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who was forced out of power by the military in April following weeks of mass protests.Abdelaziz Bouteflika served four terms as president since assuming office in 1999. In February, Bouteflika announced his intention to seek a new presidential bid. The announcement quickly prompted large waves of anti-government protests, the largest in over a decade. Bouteflika finally surrendered to the demonstrators' demands and said he would not seek a new term.