Spain negotiates with Abu Zeid a ransom of Five million Euros

Ennahar - 01 January, 2010
Spain negotiates with Abu Zeid a ransom of Five million Euros
Saturday 2 January 2010

Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) claimed seven million dollars and the release of several of its members detained in Mauritania against the release of the three Spanish aid workers held hostage in Mali, said yesterday the newspaper El Mundo.

The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment on this information.

"AQIM seeks seven million dollars (4.8 million Euros, editor’s note) ransom for the three Spanish aid worker kidnapped on November 29" in Mauritania while delivering humanitarian aid in West Africa on board a convoy, wrote the Spanish newspaper, without citing sources.

El Mundo says the kidnappers of three Spaniards (Roque Pascual, 50, Albert Vilalta, 35, and Alicia Gamez, 35 years) also require "the release of a specified number of" AQIM activists held in Mauritania.

One of the Spaniards, Albert Vilalta, shot in leg during his abduction, "is well cared for" and his sate is "evolving positively," said on Wednesday the director of the NGO Barcelona Accio Solidaria Francesc Osan.

According to El Mundo, the Spanish government was informed of the kidnappers’ demands and the President of Mali, Amadou Toumani Touré, is "a fundamental role in the negotiations."

The President of Mali have sent in northern Mali, where the hostages were held in a desert region bordering Algeria, its consul in Saudi Arabia, Iyad Ag Gali, a former Tuareg rebel.

This would be in contact with a tribal leader from northern Mali to negotiate the release of three hostages in Spain, but also those of the French hostage, Peter Camatte, captured on November 26, and Italian Sergio Cicala and his wife Philomena Kabouree captured on December 18 by AQIM.

Based on information cross-checked a few days ago by AFP, at least three intermediaries try to secure the release of European hostages.

Ennaharonline/ M. O.