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| Africa North |
| Al-Qaeda frees French hostage; Algeria recalls ambassador to Mali |
| 2010-02-25 |
| [Maghrebia] Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) on Tuesday (February 23rd) released French hostage Pierre Camatte after three months' captivity in Mali, Journal Tahalil reported. Two Algerians, a Burkinabé and a Mauritanian jailed in Mali were freed last week-end in response to an AQIM threat to execute the French hostage. The terrorist group still holds five European citizens in the northern Mali desert region. In response to Mali's release of the prisoners, Algeria on Tuesday followed Mauritania's action in recalling its ambassador in Bamako "for consultation". In a statement, the Algerian Foreign Affairs Ministry said that the release of the prisoners constitutes "a dangerous development for the security and stability in the Sahel-Saharan Africa, one that serves the interests of the terrorist group active in the region under the al-Qaeda banner". |
| Posted by:Fred |