However, much of the arms unintentionally ended up in the hands of Islamist rebels.
Air strikes hit a fuel depot and a customs house being used as a headquarters by the Islamist rebels.
More than 150,000 people died, killed by either Islamist rebels or government forces.
Thanks to an amnesty four years ago, former Islamist rebels have helped in the search.
He said that relations between secular and Islamist rebels were strong because both supported "justice and pluralism."
Both cities fell quickly and the major concentrations of Islamist rebels were scattered.
He is a casualty of the long struggle between Algerian military forces and Islamist rebels.
During his tenure, the Algerian government intensified its conflicts with Islamist rebels, and because of this he eventually resigned.
The Islamist rebels continued to make gains and the fighting started to spread to other districts, most notably, Kaaraan.
Heavy fighting broke out in Derkenley between government forces and Islamist rebels.