hostages freed
 

Update from BBC website.

BBC NEWS | World | Africa | Austrian hostages 'freed in Mali'

It would appear that they have been released. Let's hope the report is correct.

baswacky.

BBC statement:

Austrian hostages 'freed in Mali'

Two Austrian hostages held for months by suspected Islamic militants in the Sahara desert have been freed, the authorities in Mali say.

The two, Andrea Kloiber, 43, and Wolfgang Ebner, 51, disappeared in February while on holiday in Tunisia.

They were believed to have been seized in a remote area by members of the North African branch of al-Qaeda.

A statement from Mali's government says the two "are free and are under the protection of the Malian army".

There are no details about how they were released.

That's good news. Lets hope it all ends safe and well.

Does anyone know if these two have made it safetly home yet ?

I was this wondering myself. I hope they have been genuinely released.

Ch

Oh, sorry,

I thought You know everything. Yes, they are home well. Now in Austria there have been big discussions if they have to pay for the release, the work for their diplomates in Bamako and ...

Also there is the question if they have been in forbidden areas in tunisia or in algeria. - Nobody knows, cause the two also talk a little bit "foggy".

The latest article is from today from El Khabar:

El Khabar

That's it for the moment. If it is clear where they have been abducted and all the mysterious other things, I write it.

regards

Ulrich

Hello,

today an article in Profil about the "how" of the release. Sorry, it's in German but i have linked the Google-translation too.

• PROFIL Online Trick mit den Tuareg: Wie die Freilassung der Sahara-Geiseln zustande kam Politik, Inland

Translation to Englisch

Regards

Ulrich

Ulrich,

can I just thankyou for your efforts in keeping us updated. Well done:thumbup1:

Yeah great stuff a Happy Ending to this terrible saga.

The Sahara
 

Welcome Home.....Andrea Kloiber and Wolfgang Ebner, find comfort in the fact that the unknowing and suffering experienced by you both, your families and friends, and hundreds of thousands, who followed media reports and threads like this, has served to give notice that ultimately goodness and kindness to one's fellow man/woman has prevailed.

Here, I publicly commend Ulrich, who I understand was also a hostage, and the others, very experienced in the Sahara, who have diligently researched and reported the news of your abduction and posted it here. I know Grant and Susan Johnson (horizonsunlimited.com) had a very personal interest in your safety and did whatever they could. World famous author, Chris Scott, who knows the Sahara, and her peoples, like we know our own neighborhoods, has posted here, on your behalf.

Early on, in March, I joined the thousands of people doing whatever we could to help you. Somehow, perhaps by the hand of fate, perhaps by the hand of God and perhaps by your own hand, you are free. Use your unique, meaningful and very profound experiences to contribute to the survival of others.

All of us, even your captors, are just trying to survive. Everyman has his own Sahara to cross. xfiltrate