ALGIERS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Algeria's military court on Monday began the first trial session of four individuals including brother of the ousted president, official media reported.
The four included Said Bouteflika, brother and adviser of ousted President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Mohamed Mediene, alias Toufik, and Bachir Tartarg, former intelligence chiefs, and Louisa Hanoune, leader of the opposition Workers' party.
The four, who were arrested in early May, were charged of conspiring against the state and the army authority.
According to Algerian state television, the four defendants face sentences ranging from five years in prison to death penalty.
The private television channel of Ennahar reported that the military court, located in the province of Blida, 50 km south of the capital Algiers, is under tight security measures.
Ennahar further quoted Miloud Brahimi, lawyer of Mediene, as saying that he is intending to request the postponement of the first trial session because of health concerns of his client.
The four were accused publicly by Army Chief of Staff Ahmed Gaid Salah of plotting malicious schemes against the army and the nation to thwart the popular protest movement that erupted across Algeria to demand political change.
Algerians have been protesting since Feb. 22 across the country to demand the departure of the government.
Meanwhile, 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.
