HIGH-ENERGY GAMMA-RAYS FROM ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI

Orders of magnitude and the basic processes associated with Active Gal actic Nuclei (AGN) are outlined. Particular emphasis is given on the r ecent high energy (100 MeV-1 TeV) gamma-ray observations from radio lo ud AGN and is argued that AGN can, in principle, be the sites of accel eration of particles to energies in excess of 1 TeV. It is indicated t hat the observed gamma-ray emission cannot originate in a stationary p lasma but from plasma in bulk relativistic motion with gamma greater t han or equal to 10 and arguments are given as to the dynamical origin of such relativistic outflows.