Sur le site RFI in English.....

        Après tout, on peut être un "capitaine de pédalo" et aimer les commémorations, non ?... :

        http://www.english.rfi.fr/africa/20120223-algerian-official-media-deny-reports-ben-bellas-death 

Algeria - 

Article published the Thursday 23 February 2012 - Latest update : Thursday 23 February 2012 

Algerian official media deny reports of Ben Bella's death

French Socialist leader François Hollande (L) visiting Ahmed Ben Bella in Algiers

Florent Guignard/RFI

 

By RFI

Algeria’s official news agency on Thursday denied a report that the country’s first president, Ahmed Ben Bella, has died. Ben Bella, who is 96 years old, was taken to a military hospital overnight. 

In its early online addition Thursday, the daily El Watan declared he was “clinically dead”, later citing one of his nephews as the source.

But it later corrected the story to say there was total confusion over his condition.

But Algerian news agency APS and public radio said Ben Bella was in stable condition at a military hospital.

"News of his death is false," APS said. "Ben Bella is still alive and under medical observation at the hospital after having been taken there overnight."

Citing sources close to the hospital management, French-language newspaper Liberté said Ben Bella was "still hospitalised in critical condition" but later said that sources close to him said his condition had improved.

No official statements have been made.

Ben Bella became president when the National Liberation Front led Algeria to independence in 1962. He was overthrown in 1965.