HELP - Missing Tourist in Algerian Sahara

[Chris Scott]

Lets hope so...

[jondoe]

Hi

Just saw a report on RP (German TV)tonight,
there was a coment from some arheologist expert or something,on the subject.
Eny idea what was that all about?
They allso showed some bunch of artifacts.
Note that I dont understand german,so I have no idea what thay say.



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cheers

jondoe

[Budrinna]

[I think that after the problem will be solved , trips in the algerian Sahara will be like in Libya where a guide and/or military are compulsory for everybody.
Regards

[Richard Washington]

Something from a South African internet site (news24.co.za). Tells of news that Austrians are split into 2 groups and are still alive. Probably best to wait until this news comes from diplomatic sources (rather than a journalist) before we believe it....


Vienna - Ten Austrians missing in Algeria's vast Sahara desert with other European tourists have been kidnapped and are still alive, Austrian television reported on Sunday.

Quoting Algerian military sources, a correspondent said the kidnappers and their demands were not known as yet.

The travellers had apparently been divided into two groups, the correspondent said.

In addition to the Austrians, 15 Germans, four Swiss, a Dutchman and a Swede have been reported missing, some since as far back as February.

The Austrian correspondent gave no indication in his report of the possible fate of the others missing.

Meanwhile German interior minister Otto Schily said on Sunday he was cautiously hopeful all 31 were still alive.

Austrian foreign minister Benita-Maria Ferrero-Waldner said on Saturday there was still a glimmer of hope for the Austrians.

She said she had received information in conversation with the Algerian foreign and interior ministers that they were still alive as of April 8.

Until now, March 17 was the date given for the last sighting of any of the missinng Austrians.

They are among 31 European travellers missing without trace deep in the Sahara, an area frequented by smugglers, drug runners and a militant group linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.

Due to confusion over figures, the number of missing was earlier erroneously reported as 33.

Although the region the tourists were travelling in has largely been spared the violence that has swept most of Algeria, there has already been speculation the tourists might have been kidnapped by a radical Islamic group known to be active in the region.

Ferrero-Waldner said Algerian military and security personnel were conducting an intensive search. - Sapa-AFP