Wüstenschiff

'Secret hand' in French Sahel raid

http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2010 ... 92214.html

Al-Qaeda in the Sahel

http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2010 ... 68918.html

Mauritania kidnapper calls Spanish hostage as witness
11.08.2010 - expatica

Lawyers for a man convicted of kidnapping three Spaniards in Mauritania called Wednesday one of the hostages, who has been freed, to be a witness at his appeal ... "We require the presence of this woman who can legitimately tell the truth regarding our client and confirm his innocence," the lawyer of Omar Sid'Ahmed Ould Hamma, a Malian national known as "Omar the Sahrawi", said in court. The prosecution replied that "nobody is required to do the impossible", saying that Gamez would not be forced to return the country where she was kidnapped ... mehr
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Court upholds jail term for kidnapper of Spaniards
11.08.2010 - expatica

A Mauritanian appeals court confirmed Wednesday a 12-year jail term handed to a Mali national for kidnapping three Spanish aid workers last year and handing them over to Al-Qaeda. The court also confirmed that the sentence for 52-year-old Omar Sid'Ahmed Ould Hamma should include hard labour and that all his goods should be seized. Hamma, also known as "Omar the Sahrawi", was accused of kidnapping the three on November 29, 2009 ... mehr


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Birgitt

Islamist cell threatens Spanish hostages
14.08.2010 - expatica

A radical cell of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) which has executed two Western hostages, is threatening the lives of two Spaniards held by another branch, sources told AFP Saturday. The leader of the cell, Algerian Abdelhamid Abu Zeid "is currently doing everything possible to endanger the lives of the two Spanish hostages," a Malian official involved in negotiating the release of hostages told AFP ... mehr

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Birgitt

Oumar sahraoui transféré vers une direction inconnue

Oumar Ould Sid’Ahmed Ould Hamma, alias Oumar le Sahraoui, auteur de l’enlèvement des otages espagnols a été transféré, vendredi soi, à partir de la prison centrale vers une direction indéfinie, a appris ANI de sources bien informées.

Le transfert de sahraoui pourrait, selon les observateurs, annoncer le processus de son extradition vers le Mali de où les négociateurs espagnols pourront l’utiliser pour obtenir la remise en liberté de deux humanitaires espagnols séquestrés, depuis novembre 2009, dans le désert du nord du Mali par AQMI.

Condamné en appel, le 11 août, Oumar Sahraoui, quinquagénaire de nationalité malienne, a été reconnu responsable de l’enlèvement de trois humanitaires espagnols en novembre 2009, sur l’axe Nouakchott-Nouadhibou.
http://www.ani.mr/?menuLink=9bf31c7ff06 ... News=10370

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Götz

Un groupe d'Aqmi menace la vie des otages espagnols (sources concordantes)

La branche radicale d'Al-Qaïda au Maghreb islamique (Aqmi) dirigée par l'Algérien Abdelhamid Abou Zeïd qui a exécuté deux otages occidentaux, menace la vie de deux autres otages espagnols détenus par un autre groupe d'Aqmi, a appris samedi l'AFP de sources concordantes.


"Abou Zeid fait tout actuellement pour mettre en danger la vie des deux otages espagnols", a indiqué à l'AFP un responsable du canal traditionnel malien qui mène les négociations en vue de la libération des otages dans le Sahel.

"Il fait pression" sur Mokhtar Benmokhtar, alias Belawar, chef de l'unité d'Aqmi "qui détient les deux otages espagnols, pour ne pas les libérer. C'est une réaction contre le dernier raid franco-mauritanien", a ajouté ce responsable, affirmant que "de jour en jour, les pressions se font sentir".
"Benmokhtar résiste, mais il peut rapidement être dépassé par les évènements", selon ce responsable.

Une autre source régionale, non malienne, également impliquée dans les tractations en vue de la libération des deux ressortissants espagnols, a confirmé l'information....
http://www.ani.mr/?menuLink=9bf31c7ff06 ... News=10372

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Götz

Al-Qaeda kidnapper to be extradited to Mali: sources
14.08.2010 - AFP

NOUAKCHOTT — A Malian national convicted of kidnapping three Spanish aid workers in Mauritania last year and handing them to Al-Qaeda will be extradited to his home country, security officials said Saturday. Omar Sid'Ahmed Ould Hamma, sentenced in Mauritania in July to 12 years in prison with hard labour for the kidnappings, was removed from jail in Nouakchott on Friday, a Mauritanian security source said ... mehr

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Birgitt

Oumar sahraoui extradé vers le Mali

Les autorités mauritaniennes ont extradé vers le Mali, le principal responsable de l’enlèvement des otages espagnols Oumar sahraoui, a appris ANI de source bien informées.

Sahraoui est depuis 24 heures entre les mains des autorités maliennes, affirme-t-on de mêmes sources.

« Il a été acheminé vers le Mali par voie terrestre, dans de bonnes conditions», ont ajouté ces mêmes sources.

L’extradition d’Omar sahraoui constitue une étape importante dans le processus de négociations visant la remise en liberté des deux humanitaires espagnols enlevés en novembre 2009 sur l’axe Noudhibou-Nouakchott et séquestrés au nord mali par l’organisation Al-Qaïda au Maghreb Islamique.
http://www.ani.mr/?menuLink=9bf31c7ff06 ... News=10379

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Götz

Spaniards held by Al-Qaeda are still alive: NGO
16.08.2010 - expatica

The families of two Spanish aid workers held hostage by Al-Qaeda in Mali have received proof that they are still alive, a Spanish non-governmental organisation said Monday. The news comes two days after a Malian official said a radical cell of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), which has executed two Western hostages, is threatening the lives of the two Spaniards, who are held by another branch of AQIM ... mehr

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Birgitt

Extradition of al-Qaeda a victory: observers
19.08.2010 - iol

The extradition of a Malian convicted in Mauritania of kidnapping three Spaniards for al-Qaeda is an important gesture which may aid in the liberation of the two remaining hostages, observers say. Omar Sid'Ahmed Ould Hamma, 52, arrived in Bamako on Monday and while it is not clear what will become of the 12-year prison sentence handed down in Mauritania, his return is likely to be favourably viewed by Al-Qaeda militants ... mehr
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Spain Close to a Deal With Al Qaeda Magreb
19.08.2010 - liveshots

The Spanish government is close to striking a deal with Al Qaeda in the Maghreb (AQIM) for the release of two Spanish citizens being held by the militants. Spain will pay nearly 13 million dollars, according to sources familiar with the negotiations ... mehr


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Birgitt

Mali resumed negotiations with the Salafi organization

Malian authorities have resumed negotiations with the terrorist organization Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat in Saharan Sahel region, a few months of break after the successful negotiations that led to the liberation of the French spy Pierre Camatte against the release of four dangerous terrorists who have, less than a month later, executed his compatriot Michael Germaneau. mehr...

Grüsse
Alexander

Die Spanier sind frei!


Qaeda in N.Africa frees 2 Spanish hostages

Al Qaeda in North Africa has freed two Spanish hostages as part of a deal involving the release of a militant, Al Arabiya television said on Sunday. mehr...

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Alexander

Al-Qaeda 'frees Spanish hostages'

Al-Qaeda militants are reported to have released two Spanish hostages who were abducted in Mauritania last November. mehr...

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Alexander

Nun das Dementi :?


Hostages not yet freed by Al-Qaeda in north Africa: Spain
22.08.2010 - AFP

MADRID — Two Spanish nationals held hostage by Al-Qaeda's north African branch since November have not yet been released, as reported in the media, Spanish government official told AFP Sunday. "We are working for a happy conclusion of this case but the release has not yet taken place and therefore we ask all media to act carefully and responsibly," said the official ... mehr


Einige Medien melden die Freilassung, andere dementieren.
Hoffen wir, dass die Beiden tatsächlich freigekommen sind bzw. in Kürze freikommen ...

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Birgitt

Status of Al-Qaida Spanish Hostages Unclear
22.08.2010 - VOA

There are conflicting reports on whether al-Qaida's North Africa branch has freed two Spanish hostages. The Spanish newspaper El Pais and Al-Arabiya television both report that al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb has released the two men. However, the French news agency AFP quotes a Spanish government official as saying the release "has not yet taken place." The official says Spain is still working on a "happy conclusion" to the hostage-taking ... mehr

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Birgitt