Ahmed Ben Bella served as president of Algeria from its independence in 1962 until he was deposed in a coup in 1965.

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Ahmed Ben Bella was president from 1962 to 1965

He died at his family home in Algiers, state media says

CNN  — 

Ahmed Ben Bella, Algeria’s first president after the country became independent from France in 1962, has died at the age of 96, Algeria’s state-run news agency said Wednesday.

He passed away at his family home in Algiers, Algerie Presse Service reported.

He was taken to a military hospital twice more than a month ago, the news service said.

Ben Bella was president until 1965, when he was deposed in a coup by Houari Boumedienne.

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