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Monday, November 3, 2008

Austrian hostages released by Al Qaida in Mali

CAIRO — After more than eight months, two Austrian hostages have been freed by the Al Qaida network in North Africa.

Officials said the Austrians were released in Mali by the Al Qaida Organization in the Islamic Maghreb, Middle East Newsline reported. The officials said Wolfgang Ebner and Andrea Kloiber were transferred by mediators to the Mali government to a spot near the border with Algeria and Mauritania.

"They are both under the protection of Mali's army and are on the way to the capital Bamako," Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik said.

On Oct. 31, Mali has also confirmed the release of Ebner and Ms. Kloiber, abducted during a visit to Tunisia in February 2008. Officials said the two Austrians were kidnapped by AQIM and taken to Algeria and then Mali.

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AQIM had demanded a ransom of more than $8 million, officials said. They said Austria decided to negotiate with the Al Qaida abductors rather than allow Algeria to search for the European hostages.

It was not clear whether Algeria and Tunisia also fulfilled AQIM demands. At one point, Al Qaida demanded the release of 10 members held in the two North African countries. Mali has denied receiving any ransom for Al Qaida.

AQIM kept its Austrian captives in the rebel-held area of northern Mali, officials said. They said AQIM had warned that any military operation would result in the execution of the two hostages.

Officials said AQIM has sought to abduct Western and Algerian nationals in the network's attempt to undermine regional governments and raise money. They said AQIM garnered millions of dollars in ransoms as a result of abductions over the last 20 months.

"The conditions of detention were harsh," Ebner said. "It was not at all easy, but we were treated normally."



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