[Maghrebia] The Swiss hostage held by al-Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb is still alive, AFP quoted a Malian negotiator as saying on Thursday (June 18th) on condition of anonymity. Three weeks after the execution of British hostage Edwin Dyer, a group led by Algerian terrorist Mohamed Abou Zeid is still holding Werner Greitner "north of Taoudenni" near Mali's border with Algeria, the source, who helped negotiate the release of Greitner's wife and a German woman in April, told AFP. Zeid is reportedly ready to open negotiations for Greitner's release.The Malian army is currently conducting a major counter-terrorism operation in the "Sahel-Sahara band" of Northern Mali and the border region with Algeria, Niger and Mauritania.