Kidnappers demand millions for Sahara tourists

Swissinfo ^ | August 02 2003 | Reuters

[knighthawk]

BERLIN (Reuters) - Kidnappers who have held 14 European tourists hostage in the Sahara desert for the past five months are demanding a ransom of 4.6 million euros (3.2 million pounds) for each one, German television reports.

The hostages -- nine Germans, four Swiss and one Dutch national -- were among 32 European tourists seized by armed rebels in a remote area of southern Algeria, famous for ancient grave sites but also known for arms and drugs smuggling.

Negotiations were under way with the kidnappers through an intermediary, but no quick release was expected, N-TV quoted unnamed diplomats in Mali as saying.

The German Foreign Ministry declined comment on Friday.

Seventeen hostages were freed in May when Algerian commandos stormed a desert hideout of rebels belonging to the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), killing the kidnappers.

ARD television said on Thursday German authorities had obtained a video from the kidnappers in which all 14 hostages were seen alive and allowed to send greetings to their families.

A 15th hostage, a 45-year-old German woman, was reported to have died from heatstroke while in captivity.

N-TV said authorities were trying to deliver fresh food and water to the hostages.

Mali's President Amadou Toumani Toure said on Thursday his West African country would do all it could to find the tourists, but warned it would be tough to locate them in the vast Sahara.

He acknowledged for the first time his country had been contacted by Germany for help in hunting for the tourists.

Malian officials say patrols have been stepped up in the Kidal region, more than 1,500 km (900 miles) by road and sandy tracks from the capital Bamako, and that they had enlisted the help of local nomads in the search.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[cricket]

Had forgotten about these people. . .they do not get much news coverage; seems more important than Kobe. . .