Western tourists attacked in Mauritania

[priffe]

Originally Posted by Ulrich

- Protection of themselfes for not being attacked from different armys
- money is always an arguement, also for imitators or free acting groups which sell tourist to the so called Al Qaeda, better, the criminals.
Regards
Ulrich

One could reverse the question - with, as has been suggested, all these roving opportunistic bandits and all the westerners that are easy to spot, with the enormous profits -why don't we see a lot more kidnappings?
Even in north Algeria former rebels have turned to domestic kidnapping as a source of income. The desert is surprisingly safe.

[Richard Washington]

Mauritanian police have arrested a man believed to be the "main perpetrator" in the al-Qaeda kidnapping of three Spanish hostages (the article doesn't say much more than this....)

Kidnapper held in Mauritania: News24: Africa: News

[Ulrich]

Except accident (s) days, the process of release of European hostages held by Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) is run after the satisfaction of the main demands of the kidnappers. After the persistent information on the payment by Spain of a large ransom to AQMI ...

... The sources speak of deadly clashes that took place a few days ago at Northwestern Aroüane (Malian desert) between two factions of AQIM including that of "Abu El Hemmam" with because of differences over negotiations for the release of Italian hostage and his wife.

Tahalil Hebdo - Le processus de libération des otages d’Aqmi est-il enfin, lancé?

Gogoonisch

Interesting ist this name: Abu El Hemmam
If it's him, than he has taken the amnesty-programm 2005 in Algeria.

As always, Algerian games?

The so-called MR T., alias Abu El Hammam, surrendered to security services in the wilaya of Skikda aware of last week. The terrorist age 37 is known to be one of the most important leaders of the movement of the GIA before joining the GSPC.

El Watan 12. June 2005

[Dave The Hat]

Mauri feeling aggrieved at Mali release

Mauritania recalls ambassador to Mali in al Qaeda row | News by Country | Reuters

[Ulrich]

Algeria recalls envoy from Mali over Qaeda row
Tue Feb 23, 2010 2:35pm GMT

ALGIERS, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Algeria has recalled its ambassador from Mali and condemned Mali's decision to release from jail four suspected al Qaeda insurgents, Algeria's official APS news agency quoted the Foreign Ministry as saying.

"Following the decision of the Malian government to carry out the release of the four terrorists ... the Algerian government has decided to recall, for consultations, its ambassador in Bamako," the statement said.

It said the Algerian government "strongly condemns and denounces this unfriendly attitude from the Malian government." (Reporting by Lamine Chikhi; Writing by Christian Lowe)

Source: Reuters
____________________

Release of French hostages in Mali: a "matter of hours and days" according to Paris
Date: 23/2/1 at 11:13:15

(AFP)
PARIS - The French State Secretary for Cooperation, Alain Joyandet, said Tuesday he hoped that the release of French hostages, Peter Camatte the hands of the Islamists AQIM (al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb) is now "a matter of hours and days".

Asked by the channel to LCI on the release by Mali four Islamists, Mr. Joyandet noted that Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and the Secretary General of the Elysee Claude Guéant "have done much work on this issue" .

"This is the first sign after the requests that France has done, I hope this is a matter of hours and days," noted Secretary of State in charge of African issues.

Four Islamists - two Algerians, a Burkinabe and a Mauritanian arrested in April 2009 in northern Mali - including Al-Qaeda demanded the release against that of a French hostage, were released into the night from Sunday to Monday.

The movement of Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb, which escrow a total of six Europeans in the desert area north of the country, had threatened to kill the French Pierre Camatte before February 20 if it did not obtain the release of four Islamist their transfer to the north.

Bernard Kouchner had made two visits to Bamako on 1 and February 13, and Claude Guéant had also moved for the second trip.

Besides the French, the AQIM uses three Spaniards captured November 29 and a couple of Italians kidnapped December 17, all in Mauritania.

Source: AFP

Ulrich

[Ulrich]

Release of French hostage Pierre Camatte

The French Pierre Camatte hostage kidnapped in Mali last November 25 by Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), was released Tuesday, said the Elysee.

Yahoo - Libération de l'otage français Pierre Camatte

Gogoonisch

Ulrich

[priffe]

One home, five to go. The Italian guy may be in trouble.
UPDATE 2-Al Qaeda releases Frenchman in prisoner swap | News by Country | Reuters

[Toyark]

and a BBC link

[Ulrich]

The rumor mill cooks! - Ist Pierre Camatte an agent of DGSE?

Pierre Camatte, former hostage of a group of Al-Qaeda in Mali, is it the "president of an association involved in the cultivation of a plant treatment against malaria, as it has been presented so far? Or is it a spy for the DGSE, the foreign intelligence services French? ...

... We currently have eight hostages. On in Mali, Pierre Camatte four in Sudan, one in Somalia and two in Afghanistan.

Le Monde - L'otage libéré Pierre Camatte est-il un agent de la DGSE ?

Gogoonisch

The rumor cames from here:

The hostage was released Camatte Pierre-very-official agent of the DGSE, who was working undercover, to better monitor the movements in what became one of the rear bases of Algerian terrorists of the former GIA.

Bakchich.info - Le M. Espionnage de Sarko grille son agent

Gogoonisch

[Chris Scott]

... Pierre Camatte an agent of DGSE...

I recall this being suggested as soon as he was grabbed before the malaria research story was put out.

It is notable that he was the first French national to be grabbed since 2003 and if he was DGSE then he got of rather lightly. He could have been both of course.

Ch

[roro]

"the first French national to be grabbed since 2003" euh, I don't remember which french was grabbed this year....
But some French travellers were killed in Mauritania in 2008, if I remember well.
RR.

[Ulrich]

The so called "Al Qaeda in Maghreb" (better: the criminals) released a video-statement. Only a picture, see below, with spoken statement.

Praise be to God alone, victory to His slave, dearest recruited, and defeated the parties alone, and prayer and peace be upon the Prophet Almrahmp and epic, his family and companions pure and righteous, but after:

Although more than two months on the kidnapping of Italian Cicala Sergio and his wife, the Italian nationality Kabore Philomene Pawelgba, and with the upcoming entry into force deadline set by the mujahideen, the Berlusconi government, the latter did nothing so far and has not made any significant effort to preserve the life habitat in time which lie on the public opinion and boasts of having made their efforts. And because we lie to claims of this government and we would like to inform the Italian public opinion is not serious Asthtaarham rulers and the lives of their fellow citizens, we clearly get across the appeal of the kidnapped Siclla Cicala Sergio Sergio and falls is a call to build an argument in the context of Italy and our aquittance before God.

We reiterate our appeal to the families of the abductees and Italian public opinion: If you want the safety of soldiers Flik clicking on the aggressor and invite your Government to respond to the legitimate demands of the mujahideen.

Regards

Ulrich

[Richard Washington]

Another scrap between the Mauri army and bandits in the NE of Mauri - near Chegga 25°22'25.40"N 5°47'13.79"W - the triple point of Algeria, Mali and Mauri. Plane went in yesterday to pick up the 18 surviving prisoners (no idea where they would have put the plane down). Looks like the army intercepted a drugs convoy. Article also says NE Mauri is now a military zone.

Mauritanian army kills 3 in attack on armed convoy | Top News | Reuters

[Dave The Hat]

Im curious to ask.....Is there any reason to believe that the Sawahari people are involved in any of this at all?

With so many having sat in the camps at Tindouf for so long, with no obvious sign of their goals being achieved, could any of them become involved in any of this?

I understand their issue is directed towards the Moroccans, but young men sitting in the remote Sahara with little to do but hope one day their land will be returned may easily be tempted to become involved.

I have no reason to believe that, just curious....Tindhouf and Chegga aren't a huge distance apart.

[Ulrich]

Negotiator Mali: the fate of the Italian hostages "troubling" but they are not in danger

Mali said negotiator told AFP that the fate of the Italians held by the spouses of al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb in the north of Mali "worrying", but their lives "is not in danger," the deadline set by the organization Monday . .

The source added that "their fate is alarming because the kidnappers had no access to their demands. But we know that at the end of the deadline would not be in danger of their lives will not kill. We have guarantees ". ".

Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb has given the Italian authorities have until March to meet the demands for the release of Sergio Chikala (65 years) and his wife Philomene Kabore (39 years) who were kidnapped in Mauritania on December 18 . .

And demands the organization, especially the release of four imprisoned militants in Mauritania, did not specify the hour deadline, but it may be Monday night . .

Source: Saharamedias - مفاوض مالي: مصير الرهينتين الايطاليين "مقلق" لكن