Posted on 04/25/2003 7:58:16 AM PDT by Destro
ALGERIA: Human Shields for Holy Warriors
April 24, 2003: The 31 lost Europeans are now thought to be held by a group of Islamic rebels fearful of a government crackdown. The Europeans were grabbed for use as human shields. The Europeans are thought to be held outside the town of Illizi, 1,700 kilometers southeast of the capital.
April 18, 2003: Police ambushed rebels 430 kilometers west of the capital, killing three of them.
April 18, 2003: So far this month, Islamic rebel activity has left 30 people dead, 25 of them rebels. Since the start of the year, 360 have died because of Islamic rebel violence. This is one of the lowest death tolls in years.
April 17, 2003: Contact has been made with one group of kidnappers in southern Algeria and negotiations are under way.
April 15, 2003: Locals have blamed the missing tourists for going across the desert without a local guide, depending entirely on GPS for navigation. Unfortunately, GPS cannot negotiate with hostile local nomads, nor point out which route is more difficult to navigate than it looks.
April 13, 2003: The government, using tips from local nomads, have discovered that at least 11 of the 31 missing Europeans in southern Algeria were, indeed, kidnapped. One gang holds ten people, another group holds one.
April 9, 2003: In several encounters, security forces killed 14 rebels.
April 9, 2003: The Austrian government has sent a four man investigation team to southern Algeria to help find the eight Austrians who have disappeared. Switzerland has sent two investigators (four of the missing are Swiss.) Some of the locals in southern Algeria blame poor GPS signals, but no one else has reported GPS problems now, or in the last few months. The situation is quite a mystery. This desolate area, which covers most of southern Algeria, has long been used mainly by smugglers, drug gangs and outlaws of all sorts. Nomadic herders squeeze a living out of the sparse grasslands. A lot of people have guns down there, but even kidnappers get in touch to make their demands. Islamic terrorists kill for publicity, while gangs eventually have to try and sell their booty. But none of the tourist's gear has shown up in area market places. It's a mystery, and a growing one that could go in several directions.
April 7, 2003: Now there are 30 European tourists missing in southern Algeria. The foreigners were traveling in five different groups. Five German police investigators have been sent to help with the search, because half the missing people are German.
April 5, 2003: Eight more foreign tourists have been reported mission in southern Algeria. Like the other reported mission since February, all were driving across the Sahara desert in four wheel drive vehicles.
April 4, 2003: The tourists are lost in an area 1,500 kilometers southeast of the capital. Helicopters have been searching a huge triangular area 1,700 by 1,900 by 800 kilometers. Local trackers on camels are also scouring likely areas in the region.
April 2, 2003: Another four European tourists were reported missing in the south. European nations are warning their citizens to stay out of southern Algeria.
April 1, 2003: Since late February, 17 European tourists have disappeared in southern Algeria. All were touring the desert in four wheel drive vehicles, some with local guides. There is a group of Islamic extremists in the area that has threatened non-Moslem foreigners in the past.
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