Algerian army says protesters have expressed "noble aims"

Algerians have expressed "noble aims", the country's army chief of staff said, as President Abdelaziz Bouteflika faced growing pressure from protesters to step down.

The comments by Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaed Salah, cited by Algerian media, were the strongest indication yet that the military is distancing itself from the ailing president. (Reporting by Algiers bureau; Writing by Michael Georgy; Editing by Andrew Heavens)