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11 Jan 2010
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have you advice as to how to minimise risk for oneself?
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11 Jan 2010
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Quote:
RPT-UPDATE 1-Al Qaeda sets deadline for French hostage's life
Mon Jan 11, 2010 11:05am GMT
DUBAI, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Al Qaeda's North African wing have threatened to execute a French hostage if four al Qaeda prisoners being held in Mali were not released within 20 days.
Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) said Pierre Kamat would be killed if its demand was not met, the group said on a website used by al-Qaeda linked organisations.
"The Mujahideen have decided to inform the French and Malian governments of their only condition and demand for the release of the French hostage Pierre Kamat, which is the release of our four prisoners arrested by Mali several months ago," the statement posted on Sunday said.
By the end of the 20-day period, which started on Sunday, "both governments will be fully responsible for the French hostage's life", the group added.
Kamat was kidnapped in Mali on Nov. 25 last year and the group claimed his kidnapping as well as the kidnapping of three Spaniards.
Last May, AQIM executed British hostage Edwin Dyer, who was kidnapped on the border between Mali and Niger in January 2009.
"We call upon the French public and the family of the kidnapped to put pressure on the Sarkozy government and to prevent it from committing the stupidity which was committed by (British Prime Minister) Gordon Brown against the British citizen," the group said.
Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, formerly known as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), has claimed responsibility for a number of attacks in Algeria and several other countries in the region.
It has extended its territory in recent years to include Mauritania, at the western end of the Sahara desert. In December 2007 it killed four French tourists, prompting the cancellation of off-road automobile race the Dakar Rally in 2008. [/EMAIL]))
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Source: Reuters
Regards
Ulrich
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7 Feb 2010
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Calling ULRICH
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tifinagh
have you advice as to how to minimise risk for oneself?
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A very good question and maybe one that Ulrich would perhaps like to answer as he is knowledgeable on the subject and it would benefit all travellers.
How about it Ulrich? care to share your advice? would be great!
__________________
I do not list my vehicles or the places I have travelled to nor do I live my life seeking validation from others.
Any information I place on here is offered freely in the spirit of cooperation.
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8 Feb 2010
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Spain has paid 5 Mio Euro for the release of the spanish hostages.
Quote:
L’Espagne paye une rançon de cinq millions de dollars pour la libération de ses otages
Date : 08/02/2010 à 14:48:49
Les cinq millions de dollars exigés par la branche maghrébine d'Al-Qaïda, pour libérer les otages espagnols, ont pris la route pour le Mali, selon le journal espagnol El Mundo.
La Fondation Kadhafi, dirigée par le fils du dictateur Libyen, Saif El Islam, aurait joué le rôle d’intermédiaire pour le paiement de la rançon. L’argent devrait être dans les mains des terroristes au cours de la semaine.
Trois humanitaires espagnols, aujourd'hui retenus dans le désert du nord du Mali, avaient été enlevés, en Mauritanie, le 20 novembre dernier sur l'axe routier Nouadhibou-Nouakchott. Leur rapt a été revendiqué par Al-Qaïda au Maghreb Islamique (AQMI).
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mauretanie web - L’Espagne paye une rançon de cinq millions de dollars pour la libération de ses otages
Translation to English: Googoonish
Regards
Ulrich
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8 Feb 2010
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Hello,
that's interesting also:
Quote:
Mali: no prisoner exchanges
Bamako - Mali will not give in to demands from al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) to free Islamist radicals held in its prisons in exchange for a French hostage, security sources said on Monday.
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news24 - Mali: no prisoner exchanges
For my post before: The payment of ransom is not confirmed. I did not found another source with this term.
Regards
Ulrich
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9 Feb 2010
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 guessing that's a 'no' Tifinagh - no response from ulrich... which is a great shame....
Security advice on prevention/awareness for all travellers would be a great deal more useful rather than rehashed articles already on the web. Not to mention 'broadcasting' their message here again.
__________________
I do not list my vehicles or the places I have travelled to nor do I live my life seeking validation from others.
Any information I place on here is offered freely in the spirit of cooperation.
Last edited by Bertrand; 9 Feb 2010 at 08:36.
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9 Feb 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bertrand
Security advice on prevention/awareness for all travellers would be a great deal more useful rather than rehashed articles already on the web. Not to mention 'broadcasting' their message here again.
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I disagree. These threads actually bring together the numerous strands of news available on the internet and make them available. This allows consistency checks on the content of the articles as the articles are most often written by journalists who are not in the Sahara or who have never been there. The community that contributes to these threads are often uniquely placed to assess the veracity of the reports. This is, in fact, actually in play now where there is one report on payment of ransom but no others as yet.
Contributors do offer general advice on security. There are threads to this end. A rational response to the security situation is informed by the details we have to hand on events as they unfold - another reason that it is important to post information on these events and the modis operandi of AQIM.
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10 Feb 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Washington
I disagree. These threads actually bring together the numerous strands of news available on the internet and make them available. This allows consistency checks on the content of the articles as the articles are most often written by journalists who are not in the Sahara or who have never been there.
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Agreed, these articles are welcomed as they can be somewhat difficult to find amongst the many websites. Makes really useful reading, I sure appreciate them, keep them coming.
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10 Feb 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bertrand
...no response from ulrich... which is a great shame....Security advice on prevention/awareness for all travellers would be a great deal more useful rather than rehashed articles already on the web...
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It is not Ulrich's responsibility to give security advice to travellers, especially when the situation changes frequently and by region.
There is sufficient information available on this site and elsewhere to make a decision if you are willing to make a decision yourself...I personally would not go--the world is full of interesting places to visit--but I'm sure that others will be fully comfortable...
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10 Feb 2010
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Developping news:
Mali rejects al-Qaeda demands
2010-02-09
Mali will not concede to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb's demands to free four jailed terrorists in exchange for French hostage Pierre Camatte, AFP reported on Monday (February 8th), citing security sources in Bamako. Among the 4 prisoners is an Algerian said to be a "high-ranking" AQIM member. Last Friday, al-Qaeda extended the deadline for executing Camatte to February 20th.
In related news, the $5 million ransom demanded by AQIM for three kidnapped aid workers should arrive in Mali from Spain this week, Spanish daily El Mundo reported on Monday. Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi's son, Seif al-Islam, will reportedly mediate the exchange.
from: Mali rejects al-Qaeda demands (Magharebia.com)
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