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| Africa North |
| French hostage survives al-Qaeda deadline |
| 2010-02-23 |
| [Maghrebia] One day after the expiration of an al-Qaeda deadline for his life, kidnapped Frenchman Peter Camatte was reportedly still alive in northern Mali, AFP quoted a Malian negotiator as saying on Sunday (February 21st). "We have had the assurance of those who hold him," the negotiator confirmed. Four prisoners, whose release was demanded by AQIM in exchange for Camatte, were freed Thursday by a Bamako court. The two Mauritanians, a Burkinabe and an Algerian were still in custody on Sunday, according to a source quoted by AFP. Along with Camatte, three Spanish aid workers and an Italian couple kidnapped in Mauritania remain held by al-Qaeda. In other developments Monday, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos called on the media to exercise discretion regarding coverage of the Spanish hostages. Asked at a press conference about rumours that Spain had paid a $5 million ransom, Moratinos refused to comment, saying only that the Spanish government would continue working on the case. |
| Posted by:Fred |