These are the multinationals, like General Motors and Nestle; these are the big industrial groups that weigh, on the monetary scale, much more than big countries like Egypt.

When someone came to ask us for help, it was sacred. We did not even think twice. We helped them, even if we had only meagre means; we offered them arms, a little bit of money, and in occasion, men.

With my government, we engaged in bringing our help to fights for national freedom. At that precise moment, several countries were still colonised or had barely overcome colonisation. This was the case in practically all of Africa. We supported them.

Yes, my life is a life of combat; I can say that this has never stopped for a single instant. It is a combat that started for me at the age of 16. I'm 90 years old now, and my motivation hasn't changed; it's the same fervour that drives me.

Peace does not include a vendetta; there will be neither winners nor losers.

In the past, we spoke of poverty, misery only in the south. Now there is a lot of misery, a lot of bad that creates victims in the north as well. This has become manifest: the global system was not made to serve the good of all, but to serve multinational companies.

Algeria is not breaking up.

Algeria was therefore only the beginning of something that was in development: this is why I say that it's the global capitalist system that finally reacted against us.

I'm optimistic because I'm pragmatic: Neither of the two sides, the military government nor the Islamic front, is capable of winning. If they continue to fight, they will both bleed to death.

Che came in 1963, shortly after I had come to power.

I accommodated practically all of the liberation movements, including those of Latin America.

I am a Muslim Arab, in my actions oriented very to the left, in my convictions.

I am not a Marxist, but I place myself resolutely at the left.

It is obvious that taking the country from a state of war to being a lawful state won't be easy.

The French colonisation of Algeria lasted a long time: 132 years.

Those who are leftists, once in power, are not different from other parties.

When I was engaged in the struggle for my country, I was very young. My horizons were open.

Yes, I am Algerian of Moroccan origin through my parents, but all my life is Algeria. I was born there.

Colonialism is an idea born in the West that drives Western countries - like France, Italy, Belgium, Great Britain - to occupy countries outside of Europe.

Colonialism is known in its primitive form, that is to say, by the permanent settling of repressive foreign powers, with an army, services, policies. This phase has known cruel colonial occupations which have lasted 300 years in Indonesia.