Sorry, but I can't resist suggesting 3IQ should try and have a debate with Peter8769 who had some "interesting" attitudes back here:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb...ML/000528.html

(I'm NOT in the slightest anti-US BTW!)

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OK folks, they have been found and are hopefully in good health. We grumble because we didn't know that earlier - in live reportage from the place where it happened. I believe, the latter is the most unimportant and just expressing a "new mode" habit of media that has conquered us. I am personally not at all interested to be "live" everywhere on the world with every crisis of the world.
Why were we disinformed (and though got track on more details than the Algerian public) ? We are so used to "free speech and thought" that we forget that disinformation is most common thing in 90 % of the countries of the world. And then, if we'd known earlier what would it help ? Let us sleep better ?
There are reasons to keep information to a small group of persons in order to save some lives. Who the heck here has the right to know more ? Only the families of the victims.
So let's stay out of discussions of "this or that group is originator and has this or that motivation". I believe that the originators of this will only be found "in public" after the victims got out. Until then, everybody will repeat the same hypothesis again and again just to protect the negotiations and the rescue activities on both sides.

Meanwhile there is only one thing left to do for us: hand over money to the families as they all (not only their beloved in Algeria) will need medical and psychological aid for a long time which not in all cases would be sponsored by other sources. Every Cent is greatly appreciated and gives a good sign of solidarity since it could have happened to each of us.

Marina

Maybe inappropriate seen the original topic of this whole message, but I think the attack by the trolls on this newsgroup has worked pretty well ;-)

Think we should consider it an honour...

Jef

While the topic lost the focus do to a prankster, the people are still out there. Have any new developments been reported lately?

Rgds
Roman (UK)

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Roman (UK)

Firstly, New stuff? Reuters report http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L06501059.htm How many times can an official view change?????

Secondly, I found this about the Mokhtar ben Mokhtar guy. Does anyone know anything else about him?


Mokhtar ben Mokhtar has an idea of "Liberation du Grand Sud". He is Chaamba and not Tuareg as some have suggested. For some time he has been involved in all sorts of things mostly raiding the Algerian army and smuggling.
A guy called Tom Metcalf, who was responsible for security for UN personnel in Algeria, said, this was early 2000(?), that Mokhtar ben Mokhtar had in the six months to the end of 1999 "lifted three hundred and sixty five 4WD out of Algeria" and shot down a military aircraft.
It was also suggested that he was supplying rebels in Tchad.
He is supposed to have been involved in escapades like raiding military bases/checkpoints taking soldiers about 20km from the point of capture and letting them walk back naked save for their boots...

Some information on Benmokhtar:

Army background, largest organisation in Algeria/Niger (300 men?), heavily arming Touaregs in Niger for their fight against central govm't, links to GSPC (delivering arms and explosives), but some sort of arangement with Algerian Army in 1999 - see www.hoggar.com/lost, the articles in French (why is that guy still alive?).

It does not make sense that he attracts a brigade in his major operation region, but maybe the US initiative to take action against smugglers disturbed some "local agreements"...

And yes, there is a potential civil war South Algeria against central forces. Did I mention that the region could be called "Algeristan"?

Regards,
Peter

[This message has been edited by PeterM (edited 07 May 2003).]

Taking aside the current issues with missing tourists, when is the best season to visit Tamanrasset/Assekrem? Are there any problems with heat/sandstorms in end May/early June which makes a visit at that time unadvisable? Do sandstorms cause flight delays?

Don't go. It's not worth it, at the moment.

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I would say now is about the worse time for good weather - I hear August can be pleasant but of course hot.
Nov can be best for clarity/heat and a tour out of Tam would be easy to organise - its only 80km. Hopefully all will be clear by then.

CS

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POB/London and Chris, thanks for that. Can you be more specific on why it is bad weather or not worth it? Is it sandstorms season?

Yep

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The New York Times found the plight of the travellers worth mentioning finalement...

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/09/in...ERM.html?8hpib

To read the article, you may have to register but its free!!

This site has all the news stories: Click here

To day news report that some tourist were released .



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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3026181.stm

Ten Austrians, six Germans and a Swede have been released and are said to be in good health, according to the foreign ministries in Vienna, Berlin and Stockholm.

The fate of the other tourists - including 10 Germans, four Swiss and one Dutch citizen - is not clear

German Interior Minister Otto Schily said he could not give more details except that the situation was precarious.

Lets keep hoping for the others.