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| Africa North |
| Unsuccessful French Hostage Rescue Effort Results in Deaths of AQMI Kidnapped Frenchmen |
| 2012-01-07 |
| Two French hostages seized in Niger last January (2011) by al-Qaeda's North African wing (AQMI) both reportedly died of violent means. The daily, Liberation, in its Friday edition last week (December 30), cited the testimony of Mohamed al-Amine Ould Mohamedou Ould M'Balle, aka Mouawiya, provided to a French anti-terror judge in November (2011). Mouawiya, 22, did not take part in the kidnapping or subsequent related events, but said he heard the story from Jihadist fighters who survived an attack by French special forces who had sought, unsuccessfully, to secure the freedom of the two hostages, identified as Antoine de Leocour and Vincent Delory. According to Mouawiya, the Mali kidnappers told him that a Jihadist known as Faycal al-Jazairi had shot Leocour dead with an AK-47 assault rifle, as the hostage was hampering their escape from the attack by French commandos. Additionally, he said that Delory died in a burning 4WD vehicle, which had been hit by during the rescue attempt. Oh, well! Shit happens. At least your government made an attempt to rescue you, which is more than usually happens. Maybe if fewer Frenchmen traveled to clearly labeled dangerous places, there would be fewer failed hostage rescues. Just a thought. |
| Posted by:gromky |
| #2 At least the French commandos took out a few AQIM along the way.. |
| Posted by: American Delight 2012-01-07 07:52 |
| #1 There was a reason that the Paris-Dakar Rally Race was moved to South America. Just as challenging and much, much safer for all involved. |
| Posted by: tipover 2012-01-07 00:52 |