Understanding the key words of war

Paris - A few key words for understanding Algeria's civil war:

Accomplices: The word used by government supporters to blame massacre victims for their own fate, as in "It serves them right; they were accomplices of the terroristes".

Dhebbahine or egorgeurs: Literally, throat-slashers. The men who massacre villagers around Algiers in the middle of the night, wearing a mixture of Afghan costumes and army uniforms. The government says they are from the Armed Islamic Group (GIA); Islamists claim they are from the security forces.

Disparus: The "disappeared" kidnapped by security forces and never seen again.

Eradicateurs: High-ranking military officers who believe they can eradicate the fundamentalist rebellion by killing all the Islamists.

Al katela: The morgue-like "killing room" where prisoners are tortured in the basement of Blida military barracks.

Klash: Short for the Kalashnikov assault rifle manufactured in Algeria and used by all of the war's combatants, often with serrated bayonets banned by the Geneva convention.

Nakdoulou eslah: "Guest treatment" - a euphemism for torture.

Le pouvoir: Literally, "the power", refers to Algeria's civilian government and its military masters.

Terroristes: Used to describe anyone who is fighting the Algerian government. Opponents of the regime claim some of the terroristes work for the Securite Militaire.

Torture: Systematic in police stations. Methods include electric shocks, blow torches, electric drills, sodomisation with bottles, beatings, the raping of women, and the chiffon, where the prisoner is forced to ingurgitate dirty liquid, sometimes his own urine.