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.
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