ALGERIAN prosecutors referred former prime minister Ahmed Ouyahia along with a current government minister and two ex-ministers to the Supreme Court today as part of a crackdown on the country’s former ruling elite.

Tourism Minister Abdelkader Benmessaoud and former ministers Youcef Yousfi and Abdelghani Zaalane, who were in charge of industry and transport respectively will also appear on corruption charges.

They are the latest to face charges following a clampdown on high-profile business leaders and officials from the former regime of deposed President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who stepped down in April following mass anti-government protests.

On Monday Algeria’s richest person Ali Haddad, a key supporter of ousted president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, was jailed for six months for holding two passports, in the first conviction in a string of corruption probes.

Mr Haddad, who owns Algeria’s largest private construction company, was found guilty of the “unjustified procurement of administrative documents” and also fined 50,000 dinars (£330), state television reported.

The corruption charges have been ordered by the head of the country’s military General Ahmed Gaed Salah who vowed “bring to justice all the corrupt regardless of their function or their social rank.”

He said: “The fight against corruption knows no limit and no exception will be made to anyone... it’s time to settle accounts” adding it was “time to clean up our country.”

Protests started in February after Mr Bouteflika announced plans to stand for a fifth term of office.

Demonstrations have continued with masses taking to the streets every Friday demanding the resignation of interim President Abdelkader Bensalah and Prime Minister Noureddine Bedouia along with all remnants of the former regime.

Elections planned for July 4 were scrapped having no popular support. No date has been set for a new poll.