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The second political trial in the history of Algeria's military rule took place on Monday and saw former top-level intelligence chiefs, and deposed president Abdelaziz Boutelika's brother accused of conspiring against the regime.

The army commander, General Ahmad Qaid Saleh, accused the detainees of "organising suspicious meetings held in secret in order to conspire against the demands of the people".

Former Defence Minister Khaled Nezzar alleged that the former president’s brother had planned on ousting the army chief by declaring a state of emergency.

The charges arose from a meeting held in late March where the defendants gathered to discuss backing a new presidential body led by former President Liamine Zeroual betwen 1994 and 1999. 

The meeting in question took place only a day after Gaid Salah publicly called for ailing Bouteflika to step down.

After Abdelaziz Bouteflika's debilitating stroke in 2013, Said gained a reputation as the real power behind the presidency.

If charged, he could join the rest of the accused in facing lengthy prison sentences.

The trial comes after a series of unprecedented charges against high-profile political figures associated with the Bouteflika’s regime.

General Mohammed Mediene who headed the all-powerful secret service for more than 25 years, and fellow ex-spy chief General Athmane Tartag, were key political figures that Algerians never expected to see on the stand in the military court of Blida, 60 kilometres south of the capital.