Western tourists attacked in Mauritania

[priffe]

Latest press release from Aqim

Al-Qaeda demands release of prisoners in exchange for Spaniards - Monsters and Critics

[Ulrich]

Sorry priffe,

The North African branch of al-Qaeda holding three Spaniards has demanded the release of imprisoned members of the international terrorist network in exchange for the aid workers, Spanish press reports said Thursday.

Read more: Al-Qaeda demands release of prisoners in exchange for Spaniards - Monsters and Critics

that what monstersandcritics wrote is incorrect.

In the statement (see my article before Yours) GSPC, respective the criminals, wrote, that

On the other hand will be later, God willing, to inform France and Spain the legitimate demands of the mujahideen.

Regards

Ulrich

[priffe]

Well it was reported that Aqim Wednesday December 9 released a "second part of the same message".
Al Qaeda: Kidnapped Spanish aid workers in 'good health' - CNN.com
But you're probably right that they're only speculating. We'll have to wait until Aqim announces their demands.
What does seem clear at this stage is that
-Aqim is behind the kidnappings of the frenchman and three spaniards.
-they have been taken to Mali
-this follows the pattern of earlier kidnappings

Besides the news there are blogs that may be worth following
aqim - Google Bloggsök

[mlock]

I think that the worst thing is to spread out fear. I see other riders that will take the same direction as me...and pass from the place that the Aqim made the kidnap, worry too much,as i do, if they will meet sth like that. As we see it doesnt help if you drive with 10-20 bikes together or alone. It was a convoy of many cars and they got the last. That happend when driving at night, which for me is the mistake they did. Of course its not mistake to drive at night, but when you are in a region where Aqim is mostly present, you must take all the scenarios in mind and make ONLY right steps.

If you ride from early morning until the sunset and sleep safe in a place the possibilites for something to go wrong like that, are the same as if you were driving in any other place in the world.

The members of Aqim are very clever and they know very well who to kidnap and who not, when and when not.

This is the point of view from a 27yrs guy.

[mlock]

any news for the people kidnapped?

[mafra]

NO - nothing

[priffe]

Three weeks now.
Mali To Negotiate With African Al Qaeda Group
Mali seeks contact with captors of Spanish hostages | Top News | Reuters

[langebaan sunset]

This dropped in my inbox today.....

Contacts to free Europeans held by Al-Qaeda in Africa
By Serge Daniel (AFP)


BAMAKO — Intermediaries have contacted Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) to obtain the release of a Frenchman kidnapped in Mali and three Spaniards abducted in Mauritania, several sources said Friday....more here AFP: Contacts to free Europeans held by Al-Qaeda in Africa

Nick

[priffe]

It appears the mayor of Tirkent Ould Sheikh is on the job again. He seems to be the regular gobetween in the Mali kidnappings.
With the Canadians he claimed he was never even paid.

AFP: Contacts to free Europeans held by Al-Qaeda in Africa

"BAMAKO — Intermediaries have contacted Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) to obtain the release of a Frenchman kidnapped in Mali and three Spaniards abducted in Mauritania, several sources said Friday.
According to information obtained by AFP, at least three intermediaries are trying to obtain the freedom of the four Europeans held since late November in a desert region on the border between Mali and Algeria.
"We check everything, we pay attention to the slightest detail that could be useful in these cases and efforts are speeding up," a Malian security source told AFP.
The "historic channel" -- the name given to negotiations led by dignitaries from northern Mali -- is active again.
One of these notables, involved since 2003 in efforts to free hostages in northern Mali, is on the ground where he can talk to the kidnappers. "This contact is there, but I can't say any more," a Malian source close to the case said.
France has sent a team of specialists to Bamako to "push forward the dossier," but they became irritated after the press published articles about the hostage affair, the same source said.
According to the scenario developed over the years, intermediaries make contact with the kidnappers, then return with their demands, which usually includes the release of detained Islamist activists.
Then begins the back-and-forth process between kidnappers and authorities.
"We remain prudent, but optimistic. Things are moving, rather fast," said the Malian security source.
A foreign source close to the case stressed that "France, Spain, Mali and Mauritania work hand-in-hand. It's clear that the objective is to obtain the release of the four Europeans together."
Frenchman Pierre Camatte, 61, was seized on November 26 in the Malian town of Menaka, more than 1,500 kilometres (930 miles) northeast of Bamako. Three days later, armed men kidnapped the three Spaniards -- Roque Pascual, 50, Albert Vilalta, 35, and Alicia Gamez, 35 -- on the Nouadhibou-Nouakchott coast road in Mauritania. They were at the tail end of an aid convoy.
The North African branch of Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for both kidnappings on December 8.
At first, it appeared that the French hostage were in the hands of Abdelhamid Abu Zeid, an Algerian and one of the most radical emirs of AQIM, while the three Spaniards were being held by another Algerian, Mokhtar Belmokhtar, alias Belawar, reputedly more "moderate."
Later, a well-informed source affirmed that the Europeans were all being held by the hardline wing of AQIM, the group led by Abu Zeid, who executed British hostage Edwin Dyer in June.
Since then, it would be wiser simply to say that the four hostages are "in the hands of AQIM," several sources told AFP. "Whether it's Abu Zeid, Belawar, or even Abu Yaha Amane (another AQIM chief closer to Abu Zeid than Belawar), there are links among them all," a foreign security source said.
"That's an advantage for negotiations, but it's also a drawback," the source added. "To toughen up negotiations, one part of the group can play the 'bad guys' while the other plays the 'good guys'."

[mlock]

i hope the best for all of those that did nothing bad....

anyone that has news post it please.

[Chri8]

It seems, that there was a second event
Mauritanie: 2 Italiens disparus, "forte probabilité" d'enlèvement (source sécuritaire) - Le Monde.fr

[translation here] [location here]

[mafra]

edited

[Richard K]

From Reuters:

UPDATE 2-Italian couple missing in eastern Mauritania | News by Country | Reuters

Regional news feeds here

[priffe]

Bad, bad, bad.
That is close to the Mali border, on the regular Nouakchott - Bamako route.
Also this one may be different from the other in that it appears to have been more random.
An Italian man in his 60s with a Burkina wife (also Italian citizen) and Ivorian driver.
All missing, Minibus riddled with bulletholes found by the road.
They were driving after dark.

[Ronnie79]

Were they taken near Kubani?

As I understand the kidnappings are well planned and they don't just hide in the bush and wait for the next western car? If so, why these guy's? Are they rich or are the some other reasons?

I don't like this... I get the feeling that I'm not safer just because I spend my last money on the fuel to Africa and don't have rich relatives nor a good job...

I hope it works out well for them!