***The army in troubled Algeria has reinforced security measures to try to break an impasse between hard line anti-Islamists and moderates. Assassinations and military attacks by extremists have made this a difficult task. The Algerian authorities were shocked to discover that fundamentalist infiltrators in the army had aided the attacks. The country's leaders face a struggle because the mandate giving them power expires at the end of the year.***

THE key question facing Algeria* beleaguered secular rulers Is: how to deal with Islamists? Ever since the army stepped in at the beginning of last year to block the overwhelming election victory by the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) and Install a five-man High Council of State, there has been constant trouble. An Incipient civil war has been waged by those who feel they were cheated of power.

The state has responded only with repression. Last year It detained 9.000 Islamic suspects In camps In the Sahara and brought back torture and the death penalty. Six men have been executed already this year. Another 100 languish on Algeria's death row.

A state of emergency has been in force since February of last year and a curfew Is in place in Algiers and six other districts. While this show of force has largely kept the lid on the situation, it has failed to quell Islamic fervour or halt violence by armed fundamentalist extremists. More than 600 have died in the past year.

Now security measures are to be further reinforced. Following a widely attended peace march on March 22. the government promised stiffer measures against terrorism and broke off diplomatic relations with Iran, which it accuses of backing fundamental ism. It also recalled its ambassador from Sudan, which Is accused of masterminding the pan-lslamlc movement.

The latest moves appear to

show that the hard line anti-Islamists in the army are winning a power struggle over moderates, who believe In conciliation rather than confrontation to win over the huge and passively hostile Islamic electorate. The moderates hope to win the hardliners over to a more neutral position so they can be Integrated Into the regime.

Many Algerians believe dla togue Is the only way out of the political impasse. But the moderates' position was undermined by two factors. The first was the shocking daylight assassination* on the streets of Algiers of three prominent citizens

Although close to power, they were member* of neither the government nor the armed

force*. The killings are assumed to be the work of Islamic extremists.

Secondly, the moat serious military attack In a year occurred when another group of extremists attacked an army barrack south of Algiers, killing 18 soldier*.

Even more alarming to the Algerian authorities was the fact that fundamentalist infiltrator* in I he army were re sponsible for helping the attackers. As a result, a power struggle within the armed forces has Intensified in a bid by the hard-line Defence Minster and strongman of the regime. General Khaled Nezzar. to try to purge such saboteurs from its ranks.

He hold* them responsible for an attempt on his life tn February, as only a few Insiders knew his constantly-changing route to work — and also for other lethal attacks on barracks.

The Algerian stale s worst nightmare is of a fifth column of fundamentalists in the army plotting to overthrow the regime.

There have already been discreet purges in the past, but those with secret sympathies are hard to detect. Perhaps, because of these tensions It is rumoured that one faction In the armed forces, which has already taken a more active role tn running the country, albeit still Indl-

racily, wants to lake .direct flower

What will happen I* still un clear The present govern ment. imposed by force on Algerians, command* little respect and to not only considered corrupt and Ineffective, but also a hangover (rom the past 30 years of colossal mi* management and corruption that have led Algeria to Us current mess

The army, fully aware of the limitation* of its creation, urged the government to start a dialogue with opposition political parties — a process which has enjoyed only extremely limited success. Several parties have refused to participate, criticising an agenda limited solely to Institutional procedures rather than issues of real Importance to Algerians, such as unemployment and the pitiful state of the economy .

Critics remain convinced the real alm of the exercise is for Algeria's current leaders to hang onto power when the mandate of the High Council of Sate expires at the end of this year. Can they get away with this? The answer, as always In Algeria, depends on the army.

— GEMINI NEWS