The two Italiens are free!

Source. Saharamedia - عاجل: القاعدة تفرج عن زوجين ايطاليين في شمال مالي

Ulrich

More, better readable.

AFP: Al-Qaeda frees two Italian hostages in Mali: official

Ulrich

Brilliant news. Hoping the 2 remaining Spanish are freed very soon.

Here she is, without the pixellation.
She must've been a PIA for the bearded guys, they offered her to go but she refused to leave her husband. Her abduction caused resentment against islamists and "tuaregs" at least in Burkina.
What it actually took to get them free we may never know.
AFP: Italians freed by Al-Qaeda arrive in Mali
""They both look well but clearly the woman handled the captivity better than the man," said a Malian security source close to officials escorting the pair to Mali's capital.
The couple are due to fly from the Malian capital directly to Italy.
"No ransom was paid" for the release, an official from Mali's presidential palace told AFP, "we got tribal leaders in the north to intervene, and they played an important role."
AQIM had demanded the release of Mauritanian prisoners in exchange for the pair's freedom but Mauritanian Prime Minister Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdhaf had said his government refused to negotiate with "terrorist groups"."

Joint command to be set up in Tamanrasset:

Les forums de Kidal.info || Kidal.info

Italians appeal for the release of the Spanish hostages:

Les news de Kidal.info || Kidal.info

Interestingly a French source posted by Ulrich today regarding the latest grab in Niger

Google Nachricht

reports that the two remaining Spanish are held by Abou Zeid, and not 'MBM' as I believe was previously suggested.

Puts a bit of a different spin on the outcome.

Ch


LATER.
But then we read from the same online news source : Not everything has been said about the ransom paid in 2003 when the kidnapping of 32 European tourists, including a dozen had been released following intervention by the Algerian army. Algerian security sources, the ransom paid to ... in the coffers of Mokhtar Benmokhtar. It was then used for transactions of arms and ammunition for the benefit of Al Qaeda.
Security sources confide that Abu Zeid, who has under his thumb a few tens of elements, is not able to operate as many kidnappings.
Mokhtar Benmokhtar ... would be behind the majority of kidnappings, including those committed in Mali, but also one perpetrated last Wednesday to Niger. For Algeria, things are clear: no negotiation and no payment of ransom to terrorists. It remains to be seen how the Elysee will react with respect to its national.

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Morocco Overland 4 pre-order for Xmas • Trans Morocco Trail

Hard to know who is holding whom and where.
Is MBM really a member of Al Qaeda? If he is (and presuming he exists), which fraction?
See the other thread Ulrich started about Al Qaeda.
:::Journal Tahalil Hebdo::: suggests that a ransom of 8M euros were paid for the Italians.

I believe he was a GSPC emir of one region 10-15 years ago, Group 7 or something (the desert) but then fell out with them. Since AQIM came to be he has never chosen to link himself with them, AFAI know.

As you may know he often got blamed by Algeria for everything (including 2003), until AQIM got going.

Ch

__________________
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ANI - Quand seront libérés Albert Vilalta et Roque Pascual, otages d'AQMI au Mali ?

Gogoonisch - E

Ulrich

Mauretanie-web - Nouakchott multiplie ses efforts contre le terrorisme : Deux humanitaires espagnols toujours aux mains d’El Qaïda

Gogoonisch - E

Ulrich

L'Expression - Benmokhtar mène des négociations secrètes

Gogoonisch - E

Ulrich

09-06-2010, 3:47 p.m.
Echorouk.online: Algeria Mali warns against payment of a ransom

Echorouk.online
Algeria to Mali warns against payment of five million dollars to release Vilalta and Roque Pascual
09/06/2010
Faisal Oukaci

Madrid, which seeks at all costs to release its two nationals held in northern Mali, is currently negotiating with the kidnappers through intermediaries Mali experienced in negotiating with terrorists.

Spanish media sources, the gunmen belonging to the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat-GSPC-AQIM, would demand a ransom of five million dollars but would not pose an ultimatum. A Malian intermediaries told a Spanish newspaper that negotiations continue and ensure that the health of Albert Vilalta (35) and Roque Pascual (50) inspires by anxiety.

When the two Spanish hostages held by AQIM in Mali they regain freedom? The issue arose after the release of a couple of Italians, abducted as they Mauritania November 29, 2009. A week ago speculation emerged about their imminent release, but since no news. Negotiations are continuing, assign intermediaries.

On March 10 mediators have already obtained the release of Alicia Gamez, who had been kidnapped with his two Spanish colleagues in the extreme west of Mauritania. A decision motivated by humanitarian reasons, and obtained without consideration. The release did not move Algiers, having been granted unilaterally and without payment of ransom.

Spanish media have recently spoken of an imminent release of Albert Vilalta and Roque Pascual, but the rumor, fueled by the movement of members of the Spanish intelligence services in the sub-Sahel region, remained unanswered. But no news since. According to Spanish media, "the Italian hostage released last week, Philomena Kabour a Burkinabe married in Italy, insisted that the states concerned are working for the liberation of the two remaining hostages .... because it is very hot, "she testified, this time in this desert region of Mali.

Algiers, which monitors all cases of hostages with interest, urged Bamako that no ransom is paid to kidnappers, who recycle the money into buying heavy armament and military equipment, and in alliances with local tribes and recruitment. It is true that Madrid is offering the money, but it was Mali who is responsible for the transaction.

Finally, this vicious circle gives more consistency to terrorism and spins the wheel of violence as a riding barbaric ...

war and love

are the

father and mother

of everything

Yes war is also a form of communication. Terrorism too I reckon.
According to a Spanish magazine, the negotiations may come to an end.
Moratinos went to Nouakchott. Aqim want to be compensated for the astonishing amount paid in commission.
Exigen otros 2,5 millones de euros m�s para liberar a los dos voluntarios catalanes - 20minutos.es

Astonishing is an appropriate adjective. It is interesting that even out in the Sahara, the market imposes restrictions on business. So far, the middle-men in the process have imposed the most severe constraints on the viability of hostage-taking. Notwithstanding armies, politicians, diplomats, threats, command centres and so on.