Missing tourists in Algeria - Latest

[Chris Scott]

Great news, hamdullilai!!
Lets hope the rest make it soon

Ch

[Richard Washington]

http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/...359488,00.html

report based on Algerian press release:

the press release explicitly links the abductors to GSPC and indicates that release of the 17 followed a fire-fight between the Algerian army and the abductors in the Amguid region on the morning of the 13th May. The 17 were taken to Tam before being flown to Algiers.

It seems the remaining group is now the one in the east near Illizi.

[Huey]

This is reported on so many sources it must be true. Good news:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3026181.stm

[Richard Washington]

I had imagined the groups being hidden somewhere well off limits - some well set out bandit strong hold.

News suggests otherwise.....
http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/...359983,00.html

They felt "the army was on their trail," Gerhard Wintersteller, an Austrian who was one of 17 tourists freed by the army, told RTL late on Wednesday.

It started the moment they were seized by a group.....

At first they were driven through the darkness, but soon were forced to walk more and more.

"We were on the run every night, we had to walk every night. Our shoes were torn, we were at the end of our physical limits, we couldn't do it any more," Wintersteller said.

[Chris Scott]

The plot thickens...

http://www.triotours.com/saharamissing/030516-rfi.htm

Chris S

[Richard Washington]

....and if this latest report is right, the chances for the remaining hostages being freed seems to have increased.

[Richard Washington]

Special forces of the Algerian army have freed the remaining 15 hostages several sources told Deutsche Presse-Agentur DPA today.

http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/...361620,00.html

[iswoolley]

From the BBC:

Last Updated: Monday, 19 May, 2003, 12:08 GMT

More Sahara tourists 'freed'

A second group of European tourists held hostage in Algeria's Sahara desert has been released, reports say.
It is not clear how many have been released or what condition they are in.

The release follows that of 10 Austrians, six Germans and a Swede, who arrived home last Wednesday after being rescued by commandos in a dawn raid.

There were thought to be 15 others still being held captive.

The adventure tourists were travelling without guides using four-wheel drive vehicles and motorbikes when they disappeared between mid-February and mid-March.

The Algerian army said they had been kidnapped by Islamist rebels with links to al-Qaeda.

[Chris Scott]

I hope no one minds then if I break the 100-barrier and save myself having to give out the free prize.

CS

[peterkik]

As this long thread seems to come to a better end than anybody had dared to hope for, I don't think anybody minds Chris.

Peter

[Richard Washington]

Although consistent with the way the last 3 months has unfolded to those not in the desert, the Algerians have denied that group 2 has been released - as have the Swiss authorities.......

http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/Swissin...43&sid=1892388

[cornepol]

Hmm,

Strange: the dutch news on www.nu.nl shows an article that confirms the release of the last 15 hostages....

Cheers,
Cone

[peterkik]

Unfortunatly not anymore, corne....
The article changed some minutes ago and now say that Algerian authorities "formaly" denies they are released.

PK

[Richard Washington]

2 bits of news...
The Algerian military have indicated that group 2 has been subdivided in a region with more plentiful water. So the problems of release might take longer.

In the meantime, there is a call to publicise the reasons for the abductions, namely the annulment of the 1992 Algerian elections which the Islamicists were poised to win democratically.

Two of the party released recently have issued the following statement which is available to radio services likely to be broadcast in North Africa:

Christoph Langes and Roland Mayr
Of the group one week ago of the freed hostages, permit to address us this message to the Mudschaheddins of the GSPC. We are again in our country, surrounded by our families and friends. We are well, but the fate of the others still in Algeria held European affects us much. From now on Europe Algeria sees differently. The message, to it us asked to convey, is being spread. We were allowed to become acquainted with the Islam as a humane religion with extremely high moral values. We have you as humans deeply felt, ready are their ideals to be defended. If the weapons had not been, we would have become friends. The life situation in your country cannot be improved, if one weapons and force uses, but only if one uses the way of the dialogue and the love. While the 50 days, which we spent with you, have we proven that we can live despite the different faith directions together and respect the other one. For this reason we ask to set the Emir and the Mudschaheddins of the GSPC an indication of the peace and release our friends.

[Chris Scott]

Although we've heard it all before, things could be looking up:
http://www.triotours.com/saharamissi...expression.htm

This website is also serialising daily the translated diaries by the Austrian leader from group 1 - they make quite chilling reading.

Ch