On the Scene: Fundamental Problem

Marrakesh

‘ALGERIA no longer exists!” proclaims a bearded Muslim guerrilla manning a roadblock just five miles from the frontier with Morocco, which is officially closed. He has just examined our passports and is pointing his Kalashnikov rifle at us with one hand, gesturing at us with the other to head back. “They usually don’t shoot foreigners,” says the Moroccan riding with me as we quickly shift into reverse, “But if they stop an Algerian, they may give him the choice of joining their movement or being killed on the spot.”