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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 |
Hmm,
Strange: the dutch news on www.nu.nl shows an article that confirms the release of the last 15 hostages.... Cheers, Cone |
Unfortunatly not anymore, corne....
The article changed some minutes ago and now say that Algerian authorities "formaly" denies they are released. PK |
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. |
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 |
The travellers' accounts on the Triotours website provide fascinating reading. Same people, same places, same situations, yet so different opinions, perceptions and reactions. From "It had not been a purely bad experience" by Roland Mayer, to blood-curdling stories of scorpions, snakes and lack of personal hygiene by the Winterstellers. I may be wrong but to me some aspects of the situation seem to be blown out of proportion to make a better tabloid story. That's sad, particularly if it is endorsed by a guy who has visited these parts 41 times.
Rgds, Roman (UK) |
It's true, I also get the impression they have been 'tabloidized' - but what's new. Imagine what the Brit press would have made of it!
Ch |
hi
have been reading all the german language stuff available. obviously the people who were there know what happened, but lots of the german speaking sahara people are saying mr w, the 41 times sahara man, has a 'vivid imagination', to put it politely. to his defence (??!), a ghost-writer probably writes the stuff and the austrian 'krone' newspaper is a comic strip of similar proportions to our own tabloids. lets hope the other 15 are set free very soon. ChrisB |
Some interesting comments relating to the Krone.at articles. As others have noted, these articles are probably just useful for sifting factual stuff. There are always a few lessons we can learn.
The problem that any description of an ordeal like this has to contend with is simply that it is very difficult to convert the fears one might experience under these conditions into words which the public (most of whom haven't been on a camping trip, never mind the Algerian Sahara) has a hope of understanding. So the talk decends into vipers and scorpions and the things the newspapers expect the public to fear. I would have thought that the problems one feels in a hostage situation are the great uncertainty and the loss of personal freedom. It is unusual for us to have our days dictated by someone totally different from us and unkown to us. And not knowing how long and where/when it might end, if ever, must be hard to endure. But that's kindof hard to write about in these sort of tabloid articles. If you had taken 17 people and told them they would have to drive round the desert at night, sit back and watch their vehicles being trashed, then walk in stealth away from their rescuers - but that it was going to all come to a safe end after, say, exactly 50 days, then the thing becomes do-able. But not knowing that it is 50 or 150 or 500 days or death, must be the hard thing to cope with. Along with 2 others, I found myself in the hands of the Niger military for 10 days following a strange set of circumstances in the Tenere (see S files on Sahara-overland - 'Tenere Troubles'). Ten days is not 50 days and it was the Niger military not some unknown guys in Algeria. But the great problem for me was the uncertainty. I was surprised how difficult that was to deal with. The group of 15, I suspect, must be struggling with that every minute as we read these postings. It must be hard for them. |
Bad news:
http://www.triotours.com/saharamissing/030531-focus.htm Rescue of remaining hostages: ‘‘Weeks or months’’ Published Saturday, May 31, 2003 The rescue of 15 European tourists who are still being held hostage in the Algerian Sahara could take ‘‘weeks or months,’’ sources have told German news magazine ‘‘Focus’’. Infrared photos have shown that the hostages have been separated into small groups, ‘‘Algerian security sources’’ told the magazine. The groups have been spread over a vast area of mountainous terrain. The kidnappers’ strategy is seriously complicating efforts to rescue the tourists, the sources say. They describe the risks involved as ‘‘enormous.’’ Algerian security forces have surrounded the entire region around the Tamelrik mountains, some 150 kilometers north of Illizi. |
hi
no more news about the remaining hostages?? renato |
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Same story in English:
http://www.triotours.com/saharamissi...outeflika2.htm |
It really winds me up that the Algerians still lay part of the blame on the tourists.
Mr. Bouteflika told reporters that the kidnapped tourists had traveled to Algeria in a ‘‘rather unorthodox’’ manner. ‘‘They ventured into the desert without specialist assistance,’’ he said. ‘‘That is a bit like simply taking a boat and setting out to cross the Atlantic ocean.’’ It is extremely unlikely that having guides would have made any difference to whether they were kidnapped, and they weren't lost anyway! Previous attacks in the southern sahara (Niger, Mali) have still happened to guided tours. |
Unorthodox means? What, the Graveyard piste? More likely the most common piste followed by tourists entering the desert. So common, in fact, that it was the very best place for the insurgents to make their hit. One wonders how much the authorities have thought this through....
Mr President, it seems, doesn't spend too much time south of the Atlas. |
The Graveyard piste? Hmmm... where did the name came from, I'm wondering? Not an orthodox name to call a trail supposed to be as safe as the streets in Brixton after midnight ;-)
Rgds, Roman (UK) [This message has been edited by Roman (edited 17 June 2003).] |
fyi, a german guidebook nicknamed it the 'grabenpiste' - 'route of graves' - on account of the many PIZ tombs + nomad/french graves to be found alongside it.
Re news: well, there is no news so we just have to be patient. The Alg authorities: it's to be expected Ch |
Seems that Mr. President has to hide something:
The Austrian group taken hostage in Oued Essaoui Mellene was approached by an Algerian army patrol in Gara Khanfoussa a day before kidnapping. The patrol asked where they wanted to go and were shown the planned trip on a map. The commanding officer explained "it's not allowed, but ok; if another patrol meets you, say, you are searching for 4 motorcycles." No word on bandits operating in that region. The following day, they were kidnapped, and got the impression that the kidnappers were well aware, telling them "Why are you so late". The German group taken hostages two days earlier reported that one of their vehicles was re-arranged as tourist vehicle (licence plates, etc), as if they had been informed well in advance. From further details, communication structure between various groups of the criminal organisation is known and makes sense. Returning to the "boat in the ocean"-picture: If coast guard is co-operating with pirates, the size of the boat is irrelevant. Never seen an agency organising armed escort, and if - can you be sure that someone isn't paying a higher price? Oh yes, something learned from this press conference: Stay out of Algeria! Regards, Peter |
had to go a long way down the forum to fetch this thread.....
Some reports in the media today that Libya is ready to pay the 15 to 20 million euros to free the 15 Saharans. Algerian President has been in Tripoli, the reports say, although they give a date of mid May. We've heard this before, and it may not be anything new, but at least the thread won't fall off the front page for a bit. Those guys must have had enough of the heat and flies by now! http://www.expatica.com/germany.asp?...&item_id=32628 |
Quote:
Read: http://www.quotidien-oran.com/quot2587/even.htm Enjoy |
Libya isn't paying, just handing over European money.
Interesting theory about Libya's role: http://www.triotours.com/saharamissi...cial-libya.htm |
Hy all!
Let me say that, at the moment, concerning the 15 missed tourists... in my opinion this manouver is probably the only one that could solve the situation... so, for other aspects will be better to wait... don't you? Enjoy! |
Out of interest, who is paying?
Sam. |
They say the German, Swiss, Dutch and Austrian governments.
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Just to reduce desinformation: There was no request for ransom reaching Austria at any time, and Libyan offers to mediate were turned down in Germany (oh, sorry, to stay in tune with the official language: "Libya did not offer..")
Peter |
That is not what As-Saadi Khadaffi told German radio: http://www.triotours.com/saharamissing/030527-libya.htm
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..that's the point: There is one position by the Libyans, and a completely different (and confirmed) one by German authorities. We have an idea what's the Libyan rationale behind, but no explanation for the Germans.
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More speculation or could this be it? Let's hope so
http://www.triotours.com/saharamissi...17-elwatan.htm |
German radio says the kidnappers have moved their hostages to Mali.
In English: http://www.triotours.com/saharamissing/030718-zdf.htm In German: http://www.heute.t-online.de/ZDFheut...055923,00.html |
So, are they in Mali or not?
"Malian army in state of alert": http://www.triotours.com/saharamissing/030720-afp.htm |
German TV says the hostages are in Mali or at least on their way, Algerian papers say they're heading for Libya...
http://www.triotours.com/saharamissing/030721-ard.htm |
"German TV says the hostages are in Mali or at least on their way, Algerian papers say they're heading for Libya..."
and the third press agency to enter the fray will no doubt explain that the group has been split in two! |
Let's try annother question: Who draws which profit from which scenario?
Peter |
Without knowing whether a ransom has been asked for, it is difficult to be clear about any possible motivations. Reports from the group released earlier were that the hostage takers wanted publicity for their cause.
But if a ransom has been asked for, the difficulty the authorities must surely face is whether they pay up to get the 15 back safely, or whether doing so just makes the future more unsafe for everyone because a precendent will have been set. |
Also an article in today's Sunday Telegraph, pg 27... nothing new to report, just regurjitation of the various information/ disinformation/ rumours.
ChrisB |
El Watan daily has reported that a deal has been agreed with GSPC allowing the insurgents to go to Mail. No details on how they will reach Mail have been released. The location of the hostages seems unknown to the public and even some of the authorities at this stage.
http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/...393921,00.html |
...and the insurgents will no doubt have to travel to Mali with guides......
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If the army allows them, these guys would be going "home". They know the way.
On the other side of the border, the Algerian minister Zerhouni has a good idea to solve the crisis: sit and wait. http://www.triotours.com/saharamissi...8-zerhouni.htm |
German television is reporting a ransom demand of 4.6 million euros per hostage...
http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/...396267,00.html |
Interesting news.
Translation of extract from L'Expression newspaper (Ouargla) 9 August 2003. HOSTAGE TAKERS CORNERED IN MALIAN DESERT Gamble (le Pari) lost for 'Abderazak The Para' Desire for supremacy and apparent split with Hattab seem to have made him irretrievably isolated Amari Saifi, or for those who prefer terrorist chief sobriquets, Abderazak The Para, seems about to lose his war just after pulling off the most spectacular media-terrorist coup of the year (picture of Amari). His group succeeded in negotiating his escape to Mali with European hostages who have been held for over 5 months, but today he seems irretrievably isolated in the north eastern Malian desert, between special forces, chancers seeking financial rewards and an increasingly hostile local population. The only way out would seem to be capture or death. Even with 60 million euros in his pocket - the ransom amount demanded for the release of 14 hostages, 4 of whom are very seriously ill - Abderazak the Para can no longer escape the net closing in on him in a hostile, little-known [to him] terrain, and cut off from his intermediaries and supporters in Algeria. Even his most faithful ally, Mokhtar Belmokhtar, can no longer be of any help to him. His ambition, struggle for leadership with Hacene Hattab and his guerilla temperament led him to attempt a spectacular action which would have given him power and supremacy while discrediting his chief and national leader of the military-terrorist Gspc, Hacene Hattab. The capture of 32 European hostages in the Algerian Saharan provoked such outrage in the international media that Abderazak The Para could have stolen the limelight from Hattab. But Mali hasnt been as promising as the kidnappers had hoped for: neither logistically, nor from the point of view of support from Tuareg rebels, nor even the ransom being in place. Today, Abderazak the Para is practically finished, and we can only follow the outcome of the hostage affair to discover his fate. Is he in effect among the hostage-takers? Many think so, and possibly Hattab is praying for his most dangerous rival to be killed or captured on Malian territory. Abderazak The Para, ex-member of special army forces is an imposing, heavily built warrior-like figure. Born on 1 January 1968 in Guelma (according to the Gendarmerie), 23 April 1966 (army source), he lived in the community of Bouhachana, district of Guelma. From 1988, he showed allegiance to Islamicism. The following year he began planning to found an Islamist state in Algeria. Djouni on contract with special forces, not deserter as western media suggest, he was sentenced by military court in Constantine to 3 months in prison, charged with infringement of orders. Army sources say he deserted in 1991. Other sources say he broke ranks to end his contract. Islamic fundamentalist and hateful of the authorities, he naturally joined guerilla activities through the GIA. He was quickly promoted to rank of chief, and in the Zitouni epoque was a member of the GIA directorate. He broke away from the GIA in 1996 and with Hattab set up the Gspc in the Kabylie region in 1998. Abderazak the Para, chief of chiefs, was promoted to No 2 of the military hierarchy of the organisation, commanding the 5th zone (Batna, Tebassa, Oum El-Bouaghi and Setif), towns he knows well. Specialist in surprise attacks against military contingents and police in the east of the country, he was soon hated by the security forces. From 2002 he began to distance himself from Hattab Hacene, his chief and No 1 in the Gspc. His penchant for media coups pushed him to capture European tourists from the end of February 2003 in the triangle of fire: Tam Illizi Ouargla. |
Just read on a Dutch newssite (nu.nl) that German deputy Secretary of State Jürgen Chrobog on Thursday stated to the press at Bamako airport (Mali) that he expected a "very quick" release of the hostages.
Apparently this is the first time that a German official has made a positive statement in this case. "We believe that we both, the Malinese and the German governments, can come to a solution quickly". Fingers crossed. Camiel [This message has been edited by camiel (edited 14 August 2003).] |
according to a post on www.sahara-info.ch, quoting german zdf tv, the remaining 14 hostages have been released in mali.
let's hope it's not another hoax. ChrisB |
Although it sounds almost too good to be true, it carries the weight of having a reputable German TV-station (ZDF) as its source. Looks like they're really free, at last!
http://www.heute.t-online.de/ZDFheut...060702,00.html Camiel |
The 14 European tourists who were kidnapped almost six months ago in Algeria have been released.
Several sources have reported that the 9 Germans, 4 Swiss and 1 Dutchman have been flown to Bamako, where they are receiving first medical treatment. None of the governments involved in the case have confirmed the news yet. The 14 are reported to be in good shape. They will fly home later on Sunday evening and are expected at Cologne airport early on Monday morning. German television station ZDF claims that the Malian government has paid a ransom for the release of the hostages on Saturday. http://www.triotours.com/saharamissing/030817-zdf.htm |
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It looks like the last 14 hostages were liberated today by the islamist group GSPC after the german governement agreed to pay a total of 64,4 millions euros. It seems that this islamic groups have found a new easy way of auto financing , after the money from the persian Gulf started to diminish , german and swiss governement (and probably japanese too in the future) are always ready to pay millions for the sake of theire citizens ....I have my own reasons to believe that his will rather encourage other groups and the GSPC itself to attempt more tourists kidnapings ...
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My God...
"German labor laws may delay hostages’ return" http://www.triotours.com/saharamissing/030718-dpa2.htm |
It's official! All 14 tourists are free!
http://www.triotours.com/saharamissi...8-reuters2.htm Thank God! |
" We officially confirm that all the hostages have been released" says a Malian govt official. If its true they should be home tomorrow.
It will be interesting to find out how the kidnappers will actually get away with it. Ch |
BAMAKO (Reuters) - Algerian militants have handed over all 14 European hostages held in the Sahara desert for over five months, bringing relief to families and negotiators who hope to bring the group to Mali's capital Bamako on Tuesday.
Confirmation from Malian and German officials that the group members were safe and in the care of Mali authorities ended a tense 24 hours of conflicting reports on the hostages' release. "This was great negotiating skill by the Mali president (Amadou Toumani Toure)," Germany's Deputy Foreign Minister Juergen Chrobog told a German television station from Bamako. "The president confirmed to me that all the hostages are well. So that is also a relief, it seems that no one has been hurt," added Chrobog. It was not clear whether any ransom had been paid. |
And so ends the first summer time crossing of the Sahara via Algeria, Mali and the Tanezrouft by European tourists for some time! Timely for a new route in the second edition of Sahara Overland.......
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OK for the new route , but it seems a little too expensive ( this kind of guide is not very cheap , and not very kind ) and little too dangerous ( one dead person ..... )
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Dangerous yes, but expensive? Several sources raise doubts if any ransom has been paid. Seems that the Touareg were quite unhappy with the attention for northern Mali - we'll see if the kidnappers can get away...and probably German support for the Mali government and/or locals will do the rest.
Regards, Peter |
2 wheelers on the take....
Arjen Hilbers, one of 14 Europeans released in Mali this week after being held captive by Algerian militants in the desert, said he and his traveling companions were in dunes looking for a place to sleep when a column of motorcycles and some cars drew up. "To our incredible shock, we saw armed men on motorbikes... My companion said: 'Those are holy warriors -- they've all got beards' and I realized this was no ordinary hold-up," he said. The tourists were made to put their belongings in the militants' cars and then to drive off on their own motorbikes, each with a kidnapper on the back, Hilbers told a news conference. |
Gulf News: "Libya paid a ransom of $5.5 million (BD2.7m) "on its own initiative" to the abductors of 14 European hostages who were released this week after being held for months in the Sahara desert, diplomats said here yesterday.
The money passed "neither through Malian nor German hands," the diplomat told AFP after the freed hostages returned home safely Wednes-day in Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Another diplomat confirmed the assertion. The money was paid to the abductors' leader through an intermediary chosen by Tripoli, the diplomats said, without naming the go-between or stating where or when the transaction took place." |
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Rainer Bracht is featuring some articles on the second group....
needs babelfishing unless you speak german: http://www.nw-news.de/info/sonderthemen/to/index.html so far just the lead up and the night they got nailed.... |
German nationals will be expected to pay for the costs of the rescue...
An overlooked reason for travel insurance? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3208138.stm and http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click...1B265&set_id=1 [This message has been edited by Richard Washington (edited 21 October 2003).] |
And about this payment I have heard on french TV that some of the ex-hostages have been entered in Algeria without visa ; via Tunisia : I supposed they have crossed the border in the middle of the grand erg .
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News soon disavowed ! The ex hostages (but not all) eluded controls and several others current formalities, this yes! -as many are still seeking to do - but all got the regular entrance visa. Releasing this kind of news does not help anybody and more the travels in the Sahara ! |
All of the hostages entered Algeria with valid visa, no one avoided formalities at any of the checkpoints they passed.
Please do not believe all the propaganda, the chairman of an APN (Algerian national assembly) committee, quoting "jewish dominated Tunisian tourist mafia trying to crush Algerian tourism", published May 14, is enough. Regards, Peter |
I just got back from Djanet. It is clear that the Algerian military is everywhere now. There were 5 jet fighters in Djanet.... They ar epatrolling all the borders areas even smugglers are not daring to go in the forbideen areas. We felt very safe in the Tassili, there were a lot of tourists (French and Spanish Mainly) who arrived by plane. Not too many came by car, but we saw some French and Italian groups in the Tadrart. The French group had gone to Oued Semane ontheir way to DJanet!!!! The pace of the kidnapping of last spring. The border with Lybia is closed.
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Interesting report about American base in Tam, etc: (5th heading down)
http://lincolnplawg.blogspot.com/200...g_archive.html |
re US base, in February of this year, a few locals told me rumours about the impending construction of a base in Tam. It is true that at the airport in Tam, you will see signs for Brown&Root - this is the logistics company that supports the US military. It's a subsidiary of Halliburton, Dick Cheney's old gang.
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According to The BBC today, 12/01/04,(http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/3384403.stm) one of the stage cancellations has been because "security forces are still looking for European tourists kidnapped by Algerian militants, the last of whom was released in the Malian desert."
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I think the article should say they are looking for the kidnappers.
ChrisB |
Inteface tells us that an Algerian state newspaper has reported killing 4 in a raid along the Mali border who 'may' have been among the abductors.
http://www.algeria-interface.com/new...2.u77y7n8t.xml CS |
More news about the fight beetween Algerian army and GSPC :
( sorry for th e translation ! ) RR. "Neutralisation" d'islamistes armés du GSPC à la frontière malienne ALGER, 31 jan (AFP) Des islamistes armés du Groupe salafiste pour la prédication et le combat (GSPC) ont été "neutralisés" ces derniers jours par l'armée algérienne à la frontière algéro-malienne au sud d'In Salah (1.300 km au sud d'Alger), a indiqué samedi l'agence algérienne APS. "Un groupe terroriste", dont le nombre d'éléments n'a pas été précisé, a été intercepté alors qu'"il tentait de s'infilter par la frontière algéro-malienne à bord de 4 véhicules Toyota", a précisé l'APS, citant l'état-major de l'armée. Des opérations se poursuivent "pour la neutralisation des derniers éléments du groupe terroriste" dans ce secteur du Sahara algérien, a ajouté l'état-major qui n'a pas indiqué ce qu'il entendait par "neutraliser". L'armée a aussi saisi lors de cette opération un "lot d'armements acheté à des trafiquants d'armes de pays limitrophes subsahariens avec l'argent de la rançon payée par un pays occidental concerné par la libération de ses otages au Mali en août dernier", a ajouté l'état-major, cité par l'APS. Dans ce lot figurent des mortiers, des mitrailleuses, des lance-roquettes, près de 200 kalachnikovs, des fusils à lunette, des pistolets automatiques avec "un important lot de munitions", selon l'état-major. Des "équipements de liaison" et une dizaine de téléphones satellitaires ont également été saisis. Le quotidien gouvernemental algérien En-nasr avait indiqué mardi qu'au moins quatre islamistes armés avaient été tués lundi par l'armée algérienne au sud de Tamanrasset (1.900 km au sud d'Alger) dans la zone frontalière avec le Mali. Ces islamistes seraient "probablement" des hommes d'Abderrazak "le para", le numéro 2 du GSPC, qui avait pris en otage durant plus de cinq mois 32 touristes européens dans le Sahara algérien et malien en 2003, selon ce journal. Dix-sept otages (10 Autrichiens, 6 Allemands et un Suisse) avaient été libérés le 13 mai lors d'une opération de l'armée en Algérie au nord de Tamanrasset. Les 14 autres ( 9 Allemands, 4 Suisses et un Néerlandais) l'avaient été le 18 août au Mali dans la région de Kidal, après qu'une otage allemande fut décédée fin j uin des suites d'une insolation. C'est la première fois qu'est affirmé aussi nettement qu'"un pays occidental", en l'occurrence l'Allemagne, a versé une rançon pour obtenir la libération de ses ressortissants. Cette rançon, dont Berlin n'a jamais admis le versement, aurait atteint cinq millions d'euros, selon la presse allemande. L'armée algérienne a déployé, depuis l'été dernier, dans la région de Tamanrasset un important dispositif pour empêcher la remontée dans le nord de l'Algérie du groupe dirigé par Abderrazak "le para". |
ALGIERS, 31 jan (AFP)
The islamists armed with the salafist Group for preaching and combat (GSPC) "were neutralized" these last days by the Algerian army at the border algéro-Malian in the south of In Salah (1.300 km in the south of Algiers), indicated Saturday Algerian agency APS. "a terrorist group", of which the number of elements was not specified, was intercepted whereas "they tried infilterate by the border algéro-Malian with 4 Toyota vehicles", the APS specified, quoting the staff of the army. Operations continue "for the neutralization of the last elements of the terrorist group" in this sector of the Algerian Sahara, added the staff which did not state that it understood by "neutralizing". The army also seized at the time of this operation a "batch of armaments bought to traffickers of weapons of countries bordering sub-Saharan with the money on the ransom paid by a Western country concerned with the release of its hostages in Mali last August", added the staff, quoted by the APS. In this batch appear of the mortars, of the machine-guns, the rocket launchers, nearly 200 kalachnikovs, of the rifles with telescopic sight, the automatic guns with "an important batch of ammunition", according to staff's. "equipment of connection" and ten satellite telephones were also seized. The Algerian governmental daily newspaper In-nasr had stated Tuesday that at least four armed islamists had been killed Monday by the Algerian army in the south of Tamanrasset (1.900 km in the south of Algiers) in the border area with Mali. These islamists would be "probably" men of Abderrazak "the para", number 2 of the GSPC, which had taken as an hostage lasting more than five months 32 European tourists in the Algerian Sahara and Malian in 2003, according to this newspaper. Seventeen hostages (10 Austrians, 6 Germans and Switzerland) had been released on May 13 at the time of an operation of the army in Algeria in the north of Tamanrasset. The 14 others (9 Germans, 4 Swiss and a Netherlander) had been to it on August 18 in Mali in the area of Kidal, after an hostage German had died fine Juin of the continuations of an insolation. It is the first time that is marked as clearly as "un Western country", in fact Germany, poured a ransom to obtain the release of its nationals. This ransom, whose Berlin never admitted the payment, would have reached five million euros, according to the German press. The Algerian army deployed, since last summer, in the area of Tamanrasset an important device to prevent the increase in the north of Algeria of the group directed by Abderrazak "the para". |
RABAT, February 3 (Itar-Tass) - Algerian security police seized a large amount of arms from militants of the so-called Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC), which is a major source of support and recruitment for al-Qaeda operations.
The authorities had to carry out a full-scale army operation in southern Algeria to neutralize the armed band, the Algeria’s TV reported Tuesday. According to the Algerian Armed Forces’ General Staff, the Islamists paid for the arms with money they received as ransom for 30 western tourists taken hostages in Sahara by GSPC men in February-March 2003. Algerian commandos liberated a group of the hostages. The second group was moved to Mali and set free after a large ransom was paid to the bandits. TV networks showed seized heavy machine guns, grenade launchers, mortars, some 200 Kalashnikov assault rifles, rifles with telescopic sites and a large amount of ammunition. This arsenal was designed to rearm GSPC detachments operating in Algeria. Algerian media also report Tuesday new acts of terrorism staged by Islamists against peaceful residents during the sacrificial Moslem festival of Id el-Adha. Two people were massacred in the district of Jijelli, two others were beheaded by bandits south of Skikda province. Several people were gravely wounded. |
There's a claim that around the 6th of February THIRTY of the hostage takers were killed by the Algerian army INSIDE Mali.
Anyone heard anything? Mike |
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Voice of America (VOA), a US government-funded media service, reported that the US military was prepared to carry out air strikes against groups linked to al-Qaida in the border region between Algeria and Mali. According to the report, US military personnel in Mali called for a US air strike against a suspected terrorist target in northern Mali. The proposed bombing mission was scrapped when the target could not be confirmed, but VOA cited anonymous military sources as saying that such air strikes remained an ‘active option’.
All a little worrying and not something you'd want to get caught up in! |
Indeed, 'Friendly Fire' from those bone-heads would be a far worse fate that being caught up with the GSPC....
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Remember that in the first Gulf war more British service men were killed by American blunders than were killed by the Iraqis. And they did a pretty comprehensive job of bombing the wrong people in Gulf war 2 and also in Afghanistan - we've all seen the t.v. pictures with John Simpson's convoy being blitzed despite bold 'TV' markings on their Land Cruisers.
They have a long history of this - in WW2 they kept on bombing Switzerland in mistake for Germany. The Swiss threatened to shoot them down. At one funeral for US friendly fire victims, guess what, the U.S.Air force re-appeared and blasted the surrounding area, killing many at the funeral. Personally, I would avoid anywhere these people operate, they do not seem to have relaible powers of discretion. Andrew. |
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Andrew, How? Where on earth would you go to get away from these people? To the Sahara? Naaa... to late, mate. The Arctics, Antarctica? Same story. Better shut up and have another burger and coke... ------------------ Roman (UK) www.overlandcruiser.info [This message has been edited by Roman (edited 29 February 2004).] |
Of course I am talking about the USAF in combat mode, as opposed to just being present.
Unfortunately the combat zone does now seem to include parts of the Sahara if what we are told is true. But Morocco and Libya are still viable, and one of those countries is where I shall be going shortly(ish). But it would be shrewd to watch out for US 'advisors' or US trained special forces wherever - I think that they are probably more disciplined and savvy, but don't hold your breath. We in Europe owe our lives to the US and we should not forget this, but as far as the current third world situation is concerned, they have created a monster that is now out of control. If any Americans out there think I wrong, well you would do wouldn't you. Andrew. |
Just to sort out who's the cowboy in that discussion: Algerian auhorities press the US (see Quotidien d'Oran, March 2) who are quite reluctant to interfere in something which is not that clear.
Or would you think that US forces have a group that is clearly linked to Al Q driving around in northern Mali and Niger for months? They targeted a cruis missile on a specific sat phone for less. Another interesting feature: The GSPC is on the US-terror list as everyone suspicious is there. The EU approach asks for hard evidence for "international operations"; the GSPC is not yet on that list... Regards, Peter |
I have been told that - "the group that attacked the three vehicles in Temet were Arab speakers. That is interesting as the state first of all said they were a bunch of Tuareg from Mali. "
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