Al-Qaeda ransom is releasing El Para and salafists detained in Tunisia
Negotiations started with unidentified mediators to free the Austrian hostages
Al-Qaeda ransom is releasing El Para and salafists detained in Tunisia
El Khabar, 15 march 2008
Security sources read out in Al-Qaeda conditions in return of releasing the two Austrian hostages, as being clear demand to release one of its strong commanders, namely Amari Saifi alias Abderrezak El Para detained in Algeria as well as a group of Tunisian salafists serving heavy sentences in Tunisian prisons.
Al-Qaeda has announced its conditions in a communiqué posted on internet last night. The think is about: “releasing some of our members held in Algeria and Tunisia in return for two Austrian hostages…we have handed over the mediators a list containing detainees we request being freed.” The same communiqué mentioned that Austrian Authorities have been given a three days ultimatum to meet the demands,” beginning from last Thursday night. Security sources told El Khabar that Al-Qaeda is seeking freeing some commanders in the former Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat, like Amari Saifi, alias Abderrezak El Para, and Samir Saioud, alias Musaab detained by Algerian security services. The same sources said Al-Qaeda is likely targeting freeing about 10 Tunisian salafists who were trained in its fiefs before being arrested by Tunisian security forces, while condemning some of them to death sentences for having links with Al-Qaeda. Six pictures have been attached to the communiqué showing the two Austrian hostages, namely Andrea Kloiber and Aolfgang Ebner with some Sahara region members in Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. However, well informed sources familiar with activities of terrorists in the southern regions indicated that the landscape showed in the six pictures confirms that the kidnappers and the two hostages are in the Algerian Sahara.
Hostages’ crisis: Austria rejects Al-Qaeda conditions
El Khabar, 15 march 2008
Austrian Authorities have announced rejecting “negotiating” with members of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb who detain two Austrian nationals as hostages.
The Austrian Foreign Affairs Minister, Ursula Plassnik said in a statement: “the kidnappers have contacted Austria claiming political demands which can’t be met by the Austrian party.” However, Austria said it is enable to meet Al-Qaeda conditions of releasing some of its members held in Algeria and Tunisia in return for two Austrian hostages. Austrian Foreign Affairs Minister added: “Al-Qaeda made political demands that Austria cannot meet because they concern the release of prisoners in Tunisia and Algeria.” Still, Plassnik further said: “every effort is being made to facilitate the safe return of the Austrian hostages to Austria,” as an allusion to proposals likely being done by Vienna to alternate Al-Qaeda “conditions”. Furthermore, Austria has officially requested the help of some European countries through setting cooperation between intelligence services in order to end this crisis which Austria has already experienced previously as some of its nationals kidnapped in Iraq. Moreover, Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer called on Friday Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb to release the two Austrians, but said he had no intention of yielding to the kidnappers demands. Gusenbauer told journalists while arriving to Brussels to attend the final day of EU Summit: “Our priority is the health of the hostages.” He further added: “Austria doesn’t negotiate with terrorists and we are not intending meeting their demands, but we call the kidnappers to free the hostages unconditionally.”
15-03-2008 By A.K/ Translation A.A
