Armed Islamic Group, GIA - a terrorist organization of Islamic extremists whose violant activities began in 1992; aims to overthrow the secular Algerian regime and replace it with an Islamic state; "the GIA has embarked on a terrorist campaign of civilian massacres"

GSPC, Salafast Group for Call and Combat, Salafist Group - an Algerian extremist Islamic offshoot of the Armed Islamic Group; now the largest and most active armed terrorist group in Algeria that seeks to overthrow the government; a major source of support and recruitment for al-Qaeda operations in Europe and northern Africa

Arab League - an international organization of independent Arab states formed in 1945 to promote cultural and economic and military and political and social cooperation

OPEC, Organization of Petroleum-Exporting Countries - an organization of countries formed in 1961 to agree on a common policy for the production and sale of petroleum

Maghreb, Mahgrib - the region of northwest Africa comprising the Atlas Mountains and the coastlands of Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia

African country, African nation - countries occupying the African continent

Algerian capital, Algiers - an ancient port on the Mediterranean; the capital and largest city of Algeria

Annaba - a port city of northeastern Algeria near the Tunisian border

Batna - a town in north central Algeria

Blida - a city in northern Algeria at the foot of the Atlas Mountains southwest of Algiers

Oran - a port city in northwestern Algeria and the country's 2nd largest city

Constantine - a walled city in northeastern Algeria east of Algiers; was destroyed in warfare in the 4th century and rebuilt by Constantine I

Djanet - a desert town in southeastern Algeria

Hippo, Hippo Regius - an ancient Numidian town in northwestern Africa adjoining present-day Annaba in northeastern Algeria

Reggane - a town in central Algeria

Timgad - an ancient town founded by the Romans; noted for extensive and well-preserved ruins

Timimoun - a town in central Algeria in the Atlas Mountains

Atlas Mountains - a mountain range in northern Africa between the Mediterranean and the Sahara Desert; extends from southwestern Morocco to northern Tunisia

Algerian - a native or inhabitant of Algeria