Quotes of the Day

Since France's elite counterterrorism forces uprooted networks of Algeria's extremist Armed Islamic Group (gia) who were responsible for the deadly bombing campaign that rocked Paris in the mid-'90s, they've earned added respect by successfully thwarting a score or more of major plots.

Lately, however, some of the French force's luster has tarnished as allegations of torturing and framing suspects have arisen. Last week, an appeals court acquitted two Corsican nationalists of contracting the 1998 assassination of Claude Erignac, former prefect of Corsica and the state's highest representative on the island. Though upholding their conviction for involvement in 1994 bombings on the French mainland, the court cleared Jean Castela and Vincent Andriuzzi of participating in the conspiracy to murder Erignac. The trial laid bare many gaps — and some false evidence — in the case police aided prosecutors to build. For example, transcripts of testimony dated Aug. 20, 1998, supposedly incriminating the men, included references to events that transpired months later. Prosecutors are appealing that ruling, but it still raises serious doubts about the pending trial of accused Erignac assassin Yvan Colonna. Their case against Colonna was built around accusations co-defendants made to police, but have since recanted.

The embarrassing reversal followed allegations that security forces tortured suspected gia members during investigations into the 1995 bombings. A book, Place Beauvau: The Hidden Face of the Police, published in early February, explores security operations under successive French Interior Ministers, and quotes former police officers as saying they had seen suspected extremists brutalized, given electric shocks and otherwise abused.

In response, current Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy ordered an internal police investigation, and promised action against any wrongdoing. But independent terrorism expert Roland Jacquard says that cases of security forces violating suspects' rights have become "sadly common in democracies around the world" as the rush to save lives takes precedent over human rights. "At times, police forces feel they can't afford to observe rules against foes they know are fighting with the gloves off," Jacquard says. "Unfortunately, that's one of the goals terrorists are after: forcing us to violate the very democratic rules and freedoms they are out to destroy." It's a dilemma being felt well outside the borders of France.

• BRUCE CRUMLEY
• The image of France's security services is damaged by allegations of torture and tampered evidence