Mali: release of two Al-Qaeda hostages, a Spaniard and an Italian
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BAMAKO - A Spaniard and an Italian woman, held hostage by North African branch of Al-Qaeda in northern Mali were released Wednesday and were en route to Burkina Faso, but three Europeans, two Spaniards and an Italian-remained in the hands of terrorists.
- "I can tell you that two hostages were released. Spanish authorities expect them in Ouagadougou, said in Bamako a diplomatic source on condition of anonymity.
"It is Burkina who takes care of this. Indeed, the news is good. Currently, the two women are leaving for Burkina, had said earlier a Malian negotiator.
The Italian national Philomena Kabour, 39, originally from Burkina Faso. According to sources close to the negotiations, she had initially refused to be released to stay with her Italian husband, Sergio Cicala, 65, always in detention.
Earlier in the morning, an anti-terrorism source in Madrid had said that the Spanish hostage Alicia Gamez, 39, retained in Mali since late November with two other Spaniards of a Catalan NGO, was "being released".
The three Spanish volunteers of the NGO Barcelona Accio solidaria - two men and a woman - were kidnapped on November 29, 2009 on the Nouadhibou-Nouakchott road, about 170 km north of the capital.
They were traveling in the last vehicle of a convoy routing equipment to associations in West Africa. After their kidnaping, they were transported to northern Mali.
The spokesperson of the NGO Barcelona Accio solidaria, Joan Ramon Jimenez, on Wednesday expressed his "joy although two other companions are still there" in reference to the two other volunteers from NGOs in the hands of Al - Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).
He expressed the hope that the other two Spanish hostages Roque Pascual and Albert Vilalta, to be released soon: "We're not desperate," even if their release would be "arduous."
The couple of Italian tourists was also kidnapped in Mauritania near the border with Mali, December 18.
AQMI demand the release of several of its fighters detained in Mauritania for their release.
But March 4, Prime Minister of Mauritania, Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf, said his government would not negotiate with "terrorist groups" or make an exchange of prisoners.
The number two in the Spanish Government Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega, confirmed on Wednesday having gone the previous day to Barcelona (northeast) to speak with the families of the three hostages from the NGO Barcelona Accio solidaria, for the possibility of future developments in the hostage crisis.
Vice-President of the Spanish government, however, urged caution. "There is an opening that we hope is positive," said de la Vega.
On his arrival at Parliament for a session of government control, the Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said: "We have to be a little cautious but things are going in the right direction and I hope that shortly we can provide good news."
A sixth hostage, the French Pierre Camatte, was released on February 23 in northern Mali after the release of four Islamist (two Algerians, a Mauritanian and a Burkinabe) held in Mali.
In protest, Algeria and Mauritania had recalled for consultation their ambassadors in Bamako. - Ennaharonline/ M. O.
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