Al-Qaeda in the Maghreb demands release of 2 Mauritanian

Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (Aqmi) requires that two of its members "Mauritanian" be released, one of the conditions for the release of two Canadians and four Europeans, whom it has claimed the kidnappings, said Friday to AFP a Malian source.

•     "One of the conditions posed by Al Qaeda to free the hostages is the enlargement of two Mauritanian members of al Qaeda," said this source, under cover of anonymity.
  
      "The Mauritanians are currently being held in a country of the Sahel- Sahelian band," added the same source.
  
      Thursday, another source close to the case had argued that only one of the requirements of Al-Qaeda for the release of Canadian diplomats was the release of two of its members arrested and detained in a country of the Sahel.
  
      Canada has requested assistance from several countries, including Mali, to secure the release of Robert Fowler, Special Envoy of UN Secretary-General in Niger, and his colleague Louis Gay, disappeared in mid - December in Niger.
  
      Four European tourists had been abducted on 22 January, in the Mali-Niger border.
  
  Ennaharonline/ M. O.