Hostages held by a Al Qaeda in the Maghreb

The two Canadian diplomats and the four European tourists kidnapped in Niger, are in the hands of Moktar Ben Moktar, one of the leaders of Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (Aqmi), according to a Malian source, close to the file.

•     "The hostages, from Canada and Europe, are in the hands of Moktar Ben Moktar, one of the leaders of Al Qaeda in the Maghreb, south," said to the press this source.
  
      The same source revealed the existence of a tape showing the two Canadian hostages. It explained that Moktar Ben Moktar, Algerian, who requires among other conditions for the release of hostages, the enlargement of two Mauritanian members of al Qaeda, currently 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 to Niger, and his colleague Louis Gay, who disappeared in mid-December in Niger.
  
      Four European tourists had been abducted on 22 January, in the Mali-Niger border.
  
      
  Ennaharonline/ M. O.