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| Africa North |
| Al-Qaida: Freed Spanish hostage converted to Islam |
| 2010-03-13 |
| Al-Qaida's offshoot in North Africa said Friday it released a Spanish woman it had held captive for 100 days in Mauritania because she voluntarily converted to Islam. In a statement posted on militant Web sites, al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb said it also took into account health reasons in choosing to free aid worker Alicia Gamez, although it did not elaborate. "The Spanish woman converted to Islam voluntarily after the mujahidin (fighters) exposed her to Islam and its teachings. She took the name of Aicha," the brief message said. Gamez, 35, and two male colleagues still being held captive by the group worked as volunteers for an aid organization called Barcelona Accion Solidaria. They were kidnapped by gunmen Nov. 29 while delivering relief material to poor villages in Mauritania. A photo with Friday's statement showed three armed men standing behind Gamez and the other hostages. Gamez appears in the photo wearing a head scarf. "We tell the Spanish government that this positive step on the behalf of the mujahidin requires that you swiftly respond to our legitimate demands," the Internet statement said. "This is a precondition for the safety of your other citizens." |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #3 "This is a precondition for the safety of your other citizens." Can't just say it, eh? The Spanish response should be a commitment of an additional 5,000 troops for each Spaniard killed. But Spain's president probably looks at these kidnappings as a "misunderstanding". |
| Posted by: gorb 2010-03-13 21:53 |
| #2 Better word would be "Temporarily" at least until released. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2010-03-13 12:12 |
| #1 "Voluntarily" You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means. |
| Posted by: European Conservative 2010-03-13 07:07 |