Mali / French hostage: the ultimatum from Al-Qaeda has expired

BAMAKO - The ultimatum from Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) on Pierre Camatte French hostage kidnapped in late November in the north-eastern Mali, expired on Saturday without any indication being given of the intentions of his captors.

•    The North African branch of al-Qaeda had established a first ultimatum to January 30 for the French, before pushing on February 20 at 00H00, threatening to kill him if their demands were not met.
•    AQIM has specifically requested the release of four Islamist prisoners in Mali, who were sentenced Thursday to prison terms they have already served preemptively and therefore "legally free" and about to be released, said Friday a judicial source.
•    They were convicted of "illegal possession of weapons of war" the court source said. There are two Algerians, a Mauritanian and a Burkinabe arrested in Mali in April 2009.
•    Three people, a Malian national, suspected of having kidnapped the French before the "transfer or sell" to the North African branch of Al-Qaeda, have also been arrested, a Malian security source said.
•    Besides the French, this branch of Al-Qaeda also has three Spaniards, captured November 29 in Mauritania, and a couple of Italians, including a woman of Burkina Faso, kidnapped December 17, also in Mauritania.
  
  Ennaharonline/ M. O.