Zidane is visiting the country at the invitation of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika who has laid on a program of events, including an appearance at an Algiers stadium Thursday when he will kick-off a local match before a 60,000-strong crowd.

His arrival at the city's airport triggered a scrum as photographers jostled to capture the moment Zidane walked onto the tarmac accompanied by his parents, who come from the country's Kabylie region.

Photographers slipped through the security net to rush onto the tarmac as Zidane's plane, in a rare move, taxied to a stop in front of the airport's VIP lounge.

Some of the visiting dignitaries were nearly squashed in the stampede, and labor and solidarity minister Djamal Ould Abbas was heard shouting out "Let him through, let him through."

Security services finally managed to hustle Zidane through the melee and into the lounge, not giving him time to make any comment, while the official welcoming ceremony was canceled.

Zidane is due to inaugurate several charitable projects, notably in the Boumerdes region, which was hit by a huge earthquake in May 2003.

On Wednesday he is to spend the day with the Algerian president, before kicking off Thursday's match.

On Friday he will visit Bejaia, east of the capital, the birthplace of his parents, which is to host a lunch in his honor.