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I think a guide is certainly not an insurance against that kind of risk but , may be , he knows sometimes where are the dangeous areas. RR. |
Taureg land
A small piece of this particular jigsaw:-
BBC NEWS | Africa | Tuareg rebels attack Mali convoy |
According to a map produced on desert.info earlier:
Sahara Overland ~ News the site of this raid at 'Aleibara' appears to be very near if not exactly where the two hostages are thought to be. The latest deadline was to expire tonight Ch |
A local newspaper here in Tripoli, Libya has reported that the Libyans are negotiating, through intermediaries, with the hostage takers. The hostage takers are demanding 5 million euros for their release.
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Tuareg rebels attack Mali convoy
Story here
BBC NEWS | World | Africa | Tuareg rebels attack Mali convoy ---------- On the road? Help is at hand Textamundo - Answer your Questions, Anywhere, Anytime by SMS http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...c/progress.gif |
According to a map produced on desert.info earlier:
Sahara Overland ~ News the site of this raid at 'Aleibara' appears to be very near if not exactly where the two hostages are thought to be held. Ch |
Mali | Africa - Reuters.com - Austrian hostage captors extend deadline-SITE group
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It looks as though a collaboration has been set between the Algerian insurgency and the Mali-Niger (Tuareg Republic of Tumoujgha) Tuareg rebellion. The kidnapped Austrains provide pretext for the Mali military to go into the region and, at the same time, the tuareg rebels have an opportunity to take the military out on their own ground.
The Islamic insurgents will most likely require some level of Malian government cooperation (e.g. with ransom flows) so the situation looks complicated. In 2003 the stance of the Malian government looked almost neutral - sort of third parties to the ransom issue. It looks different now after the miliatry raid to the area. An unfortunate trend in the region is that rebels are laying land mines - initially in Niger and now in Mali. Maybe the have seen how effective the mines have been in the Tibesti? |
new terms
It is being reported that the terms of release of the Austrians has changed to include release of AQ prisoners in Austria as well as the withdrawal of 4 Austrian peacemakers in Afghanistan
See: Tourist kidnappers' new demands: Africa: News: News24 Vienna - The kidnappers of two Austrian tourists abducted in February in Tunisia have increased their demands in return for their release, public broadcaster ORF said on Monday. Austria's foreign ministry did not comment on reports that the new demands included the release of a couple recently found guilty by Austrian courts of al-Qaeda membership. Mohamed M and his wife were handed prison sentences for producing an internet video promoting Islamist terrorism. Demands also included the withdrawal of the four Austrian peacekeepers currently stationed in Afghanistan and a substantial ransom payment |
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The Malian government and Tuareg rebels have accepted a ceasefire on the ground from Thursday 0.01am
IOL: Truce in Mali This follows reports of Mi-24 gunship helicopters belonging to the Mali military having a go at the rebels near Kidal. I didn't know that Mali had Mi-24s. Just one of those machines held off the rebels in Sierra leone. The reports say the rebels were laying land mines on the road to Kidal. It also says that this fighting is complicating efforts to release the kidnapped Austrians. I would guess that the Mali militray needs to have free access to the region to place any pressure on AQ-M although I would hope the outcome is determined politically. The report ends with a suggestion that 'they' (the Austrians) may have been moved to Mauri. News | Africa - Reuters.com |
Hello everbody,
new statement realesed today. Have a look: www.desert-info.ch :: Thema anzeigen - VERMISST IN TUNESIEN! Bitte lesen! Regards Ulrich |
I have the text deleted. Hi is no more relevant.
Greetings Ulrich |
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