ALGERIAN PRESIDENT ABDELAZIZ BOUTEFLIKA HAS RETURNED HOME AFTER A MEDICAL CHECK-UP IN FRANCE, A MINISTER CLOSE TO HIM SAID ON MONDAY. ON THURSDAY THE 69-YEAR-OLD PRESIDENT UNDERWENT MEDICAL CHECKS AT THE PARIS MILITARY HOSPITAL OF VAL DE GRACE WHERE HE WAS OPERATED ON FOR A HAEMORRHAGIC STOMACH ULCER IN DECEMBER. ALGERIAN AUTHORITIES SAID IT WAS A LONG-PLANNED FOLLOW-UP TRIP. BOUTEFLIKA LEFT THE HOSPITAL ON FRIDAY AND HIS OFFICE IN ALGIERS SAID THE CHECK-UP HAD BEEN "VERY SATISFACTORY". "YES HE RETURNED TO ALGERIA," ABDELAZIZ BELKHADEM, A MINISTER OF STATE WHO HOLDS THE TITLE OF PRESIDENT'S PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE, TOLD REUTERS.