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| North Africa |
| ’No talks’ over missing tourists |
| 2003-05-07 |
| The fate of 31 European tourists feared kidnapped in the Sahara desert has grown murkier after the Algerian Government denied that talks were under way with their presumed captors. "I can tell you there are no negotiations, there is no contact with anyone," Interior Minister Yazid Zerhouni said on state-run radio. On Sunday, state radio quoted the Algerian tourism minister as saying discussions with the hostage-takers had begun, but his statement was categorically denied by his ministry the next day. Some of the tourists - 15 Germans, 10 Austrians, four Swiss nationals, a Dutchman and a Swede - have been missing since February. I think that there are talks, but they are trying to keep them quiet. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #2 They stopped the Algerian military from going in and rescuing the hostages to begin with, if I remember correctly, for fear that the GSPC would kill the hostages. The GSPC likely wants members of their group captured by the Algerian government released and is using the tourists as leverage. I think the whole reason for denying the talks has to do with the fact that Algerians don't want to admit that their being pressured into negotiations with these barbarians. |
| Posted by: Dan Darling 2003-05-07 09:06:04 |
| #1 It will be telling to observe what the Germans, and their fellow weasils, the Austrians and Swedes actually do to protect their citizens (if anything). |
| Posted by: George H. Beckwith 2003-05-07 08:40:09 |