Hope in desert search for tourists
Algeria: Army official suggests travellers are being held by armed rebels
The search for 31 tourists missing in the Sahara desert appears to been a partial success with rumours they are being held by armed rebels – but that they are “not in danger”.
As reported by News From Abroad, 15 Germans, 10 Austrians, four Swiss, a Dutchman and a Swede were travelling through Algeria in separate groups when they went missing over several weeks during February and March.
Now, according to the Guardian, one of the groups’ vehicles has been discovered and a senior Algerian army official has stated that the tourists are being held by two groups of Islamic militants, stating: “They are well and their lives are not in danger,” adding that the Algerian army will not risk the hostages’ lives by trying to free them by force.
What is more, the newspaper reports, Algerian officials have been told to let the rebels go if they are caught; the spokesman added: “We will have the chance to catch them another day.”
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office website, at www.fco.gov.uk/travel, warns against all non-essential travel to Algeria – especially the desert and mountainous areas of the south-east, where the suspected kidnappings have taken place.
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