Mauritania/Mali - kidnappings

Al-Qaeda offshoot says it nabbed Spaniards, Frenchman

Article published on the 2009-12-08 Latest update 2009-12-08 07:31 TU

Spanish humanitarian organisation Barcelona Accio Solidaria is escorted by Mauritanian military on their way to Senegal border on 2 December
(Photo: Reuters)

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb has claimed the kidnappings of a Frenchman and three Spaniards seized late last month in Mali and Mauritania. The responsibility was claimed in an audio tape released Tuesday by Al-Jazeera television.

"Two units of the valiant mujahedeen managed to kidnap four Europeans in two distinct operations: the first in Mali where Frenchman Pierre Camatte was seized on November 25, and the second in Mauritania where three Spaniards were held on November 29," spokesman Saleh Abu Mohammad said.

The spokesman, who identified the Spanish hostages, added that "France and Spain will be informed later of the legitimate demands of the mujahedeen." He did not go into detail.

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) is an offshoot of Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda.

Camatte was snatched from a hotel in Menaka in the Sahel region of northern Mali, more than 1,500 kilometres from the capital Bamako, on November 25.

Malian and Western security forces say the Frenchman is being held by a hardline faction within Al-Qaeda's north African branch.

The three Spanish volunteers, two men and a women, were travelling in Mauritania in a convoy delivering humanitarian aid to west Africa when they were taken on November 29.

They have been named as Albert Vilalta, 35, Alicia Gamez, 35, and Roque Pascual, 50.