Flags flew at half-mast in Algeria on Sunday ahead of the funeral of Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the North African country's longest-serving president who clung to power before being forced out two years ago.

Bouteflika died on Friday aged 84.

The former strongman quit office in April 2019 following weeks of street protests over his bid to run for a fifth presidential term.

He had risen to power in 1999 on a wave of popular support as his amnesty offer to Islamist militants helped bring an end to a decade-long civil war.

Without fanfare, in contrast with previous presidential deaths, state television announced that Bouteflika would be laid to rest Sunday at El-Alia cemetery, east of Algiers, where his predecessors and other independence fighters are buried.

Bouteflika is not being accorded the ceremony of Algerian presidents who died before him, and there will be no eight-day official mourning period.

His once-powerful brother Said, jailed on corruption charges, has been authorised to attend, his lawyer Salim Hadjouti told the Arabic website SabqPress.

A statement from his successor Abdelmadjid Tebboune noted Bouteflika's past as a fighter in the war for independence and said flags would be at half-mast for three days to honour him.