Last Sahara tourists free and alive - Report

CNN.COM ^

[Michael81Dus]

ALGIERS, Algeria -- The last 15 European tourists held by armed rebels in the Algerian Sahara desert for up to three months have been freed, a military source told Reuters.

It was not immediately known if they were freed in a commando operation, as in the case of the 17 other tourists hostages freed last week after a gun battle with al Qaeda-linked guerrillas.

[Michael81Dus]

Well done, Algeria!

[MEG33]

Good news.

[wretchard]

The French are saying there was no gun battle -- and no rescue. Only ransom money paid.

PARIS - The 17 European hostages liberated Tuesday in the Algerian Sahara from alleged Islamic terrorists came free after a ransom was paid, not as a result of an assault by the Algerian army, Radio France Internationale (RFI) reported Friday.

Citing "authorized Algerian and Swiss sources", RFI said that several millions of dollars in ransom was paid to free the hostages; 10 Austrians, six Germans and one Swedish national.

Algerian media and the Algerian army had declared that the hostages were freed after a pitched battle with at least 10 kidnappers armed with Kalashnikovs.

Who knows?

[Michael81Dus]

We have to differentiate between the first group of hostages (17) who were freed last week, and the last group of 15 hostages, who were reportedly liberated today.

In both cases, sources report gun battles.

[liberallyconservative]

Although the thought of a gun battle is dreadful, it is preferable to the endless possibilities for further terror that the 'several millions of dollars' is sure to finance.

[Michael81Dus]

The state must not surrender to its enemies! I don´t want my government to pay for terrorism - even if that meant to lose my own life. Freedom must not depend on kidnappers and suicide bombers!

[liberallyconservative]

Agreed. When we bow down to the demands of terrorists such as these, we are asking for a flood of the same. All I'm saying is one would prefer freeing the hostages without a gun battle where the hostages could well be injured or killed in the cross-fire. But a gun battle is still much more preferable than paying off the thugs.
My question is this: who paid the millions of dollars and thereby financed further terrorism?

[Michael81Dus]

1. Yep
2. It is not clear, wether there was a sum paid for the kidnappers or not. Actually, many reports are contradictive. Now I read that special units have freed them, I hope we will receive further (and detailed) information when the ex-hostages are interviewed by our media.

[liberallyconservative]

Ping me if you hear anything further that clarifies the situation. Regards.

[Michael81Dus]

Now it´s reported that the Algerian forces have denied the liberation of the hostages. They say that these are "claims". - Very strange! Better you´re not travelling to a Islam Republic.

[liberallyconservative]

So if I read correctly, 5 separate sources cited in the initial report by CNN were all just 'claiming' the hostage release? Strange indeed.

[Michael81Dus]

The latest from CNN.com:

ALGIERS, Algeria -- The Algerian military denied reports Monday that 15 kidnapped European tourist hostages had been freed but said its forces were working for their release.

The 15 hostages -- 10 Germans, four Swiss and a Dutchman -- were abducted in mid-February by an Islamic group while on an adventure tour in a remote region of the Sahara desert. Another group of 17 hostages was freed last Tuesday.

"All efforts are continuing," the Algerian military said in a statement carried by the official APS news agency. It said the military "formally denied ... reports stating that the second group of hostages were liberated."

The Arabic-language daily El Youm quoted unnamed sources close to security forces as saying the hostages were released unharmed on Sunday. It did not provide further details.

French-language daily Le Jeune Independent said talks were still underway, but that a negotiated released appeared imminent, citing unidentified Algerian officials.

Algerian security sources and a Western diplomat had earlier told Reuters the tourists had been freed.

Another security source told Reuters that a German airliner had arrived in the capital Algiers to collect the 10 Germans who along with four Swiss and a Dutchman had been held hostage.

Algerian special troops have been scouring the Sahara since last Thursday for the remaining European tourists.

Military sources and Algerian newspapers said the last 15 Europeans were being held in caves -- close to the southern Tuareg city -- by a cell of an Algerian Islamist militant group, the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC).

Authorities were worried news of the rescue of 17 tourists last Tuesday may have alerted the other kidnappers -- a second GSPC cell. The hostages vanished more than two months ago while traveling without guides in a scenic region bordering Libya, Mali and Niger.

This region is more difficult to access than the previous kidnap location because of its labyrinth of caves and rugged mountain terrain.


A portion of a poster released by the German Federal Criminal Office showing tourists who vanished.
The 10 Austrians, six Germans and one Swede freed last week were flown home via Algiers Wednesday.

The four-year-old GSPC is led by Hassan Hattab and, along with the decade-old Armed Islamist Group (GIA), has been fighting a bloody war against Algerian authorities to create a purist Islamist state.

The decade of violence has led to more than 100,000 deaths.

Authorities believe the GSPC -- which has not previously kidnapped tourists -- has ties to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network, which U.S. authorities said may be behind the multiple suicide bombings in Saudi Arabia on Monday.

Thousands of troops were sent to search the Sahara for the missing Europeans in March, and authorities have criticized the "adventure holidaymakers" for traveling in 4 x 4 vehicles without guides in the Algerian Sahara stretching two million square kilometers (772,000 square miles).

The hostage-taking comes at an awkward time for the oil-rich Maghreb nation just getting back on to its feet with an inflow of foreign investment and visitors after a decade of violence.

[liberallyconservative]

Let's fervently hope this 'negotiated release' doesn't involve handing over large sums of money as was first reported, but I'm afraid there would be no other reason for the terrorist group to just willingly free the hostages sans violence otherwise.

[thinktwice]

Painfully ignored by all is the fact that an evil religion stands behind this terrorist war on the civilized world.

[Michael81Dus]

Unfortunately, you´re right. I was so hopeful earlier today that all were freed, and now all hope is gone. Last week I thought that there´s nearly no chance to get these people out of that hell.

[liberallyconservative]

Well, there is still hope, unless the report of the earlier group's release is also false?

[Michael81Dus]

No, the earlier liberated are safe and at home.

[liberallyconservative]

Well, we can at least be thankful for that, and pray for as successful an outcome for this group.