[PTI] The Spanish government paid out nearly seven million euros to obtain the release of three Spanish aid workers held by Al Qaeda's North African affiliate, El Mundo reported today.The newspaper said Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) had demanded 3.8 million euros in return for the three hostages seized in Mauritania in November and later held in Mali.
Madrid paid the demand in January, but only 1.5 million euros eventually reached the kidnappers, with the rest siphoned off by intermediaries, the newspaper said.
The Spanish government stumped up further payments of three million euros in April and May, 2.3 million of which went to the kidnappers to meet their full demand for a total of 3.8 million euros while intermediaries took a 770,000 euros slice.
One of the hostages, 39-year-old Alicia Gamez, was freed in March following the initial payment.