Al-Qaida makes hostage demand
Source: Agencies |
January 12, 2010, Tuesday
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Print Edition
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AL-QAIDA'S North Africa offshoot demanded the release of four of its members in exchange for a French hostage it kidnapped two months ago, in a message posted on militant Websites yesterday that gave a 20-day deadline.
Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb said their only condition for freeing Pierre Camatte is the release of four members of the group arrested by Mali several months ago.
"We give France and Mali 20 days from the date of issuing this statement to respond to our legitimate demand otherwise the two governments will be fully responsible for the French hostage's life," it said in the statement.
In Paris, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Christine Fages would not comment on the al-Qaida exchange offer.
The group announced last month its kidnapping of Camatte in Mali on November 25 and three Spaniards in Mauritania five days later.
"We call upon the French public opinion and the hostage's family to exert pressure on the government of (French president Nicolas) Sarkozy and prevent it from committing the same folly committed by (British Prime Minister) Gordon Brown toward his British citizen," it said.
The group was referring to the killing of Briton Edwin Dyer on May 31 after Britain refused to pay a ransom and release a radical Islamist preacher held in Britain.
Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb said their only condition for freeing Pierre Camatte is the release of four members of the group arrested by Mali several months ago.
"We give France and Mali 20 days from the date of issuing this statement to respond to our legitimate demand otherwise the two governments will be fully responsible for the French hostage's life," it said in the statement.
In Paris, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Christine Fages would not comment on the al-Qaida exchange offer.
The group announced last month its kidnapping of Camatte in Mali on November 25 and three Spaniards in Mauritania five days later.
"We call upon the French public opinion and the hostage's family to exert pressure on the government of (French president Nicolas) Sarkozy and prevent it from committing the same folly committed by (British Prime Minister) Gordon Brown toward his British citizen," it said.
The group was referring to the killing of Briton Edwin Dyer on May 31 after Britain refused to pay a ransom and release a radical Islamist preacher held in Britain.
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