BY MAURICE WILLIAMS
At least 85 people were killed September 23 in the second-worst massacre in six years of civil war in Algeria. Two days earlier, an armed group slaughtered 53 civilians, following the killing of 19 alleged "Islamic militants" by the government security forces. More than 60,000 Algerians have been slain since the start of a revolt that was sparked when the army canceled an election in 1991. That election seemed certain to bring the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) to power.

The most recent killings occurred in an area considered a stronghold of the FIS, which is banned in Algeria. Washington and other imperialist governments support the military-backed regime of Algerian president Liamine Zeroual. They "view the possibility of any attempt to oust him with apprehension" since "he has kept Algeria's oil and gas flowing," the New York Times reported September 11.  
 
 
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