From News24.com


Geoff

Missing tourists in Algeria 'kidnapped'; still alive
14/04/2003 09:31 - (SA)




Vienna - Ten Austrians missing in Algeria's vast Sahara desert with other
European tourists have been kidnapped and are still alive, Austrian
television reported on Sunday.

Quoting Algerian military sources, a correspondent said the kidnappers and
their demands were not known as yet.

The travellers had apparently been divided into two groups, the
correspondent said.

In addition to the Austrians, 15 Germans, four Swiss, a Dutchman and a Swede
have been reported missing, some since as far back as February.

The Austrian correspondent gave no indication in his report of the possible
fate of the others missing.

Meanwhile German interior minister Otto Schily said on Sunday he was
cautiously hopeful all 31 were still alive.

Austrian foreign minister Benita-Maria Ferrero-Waldner said on Saturday
there was still a glimmer of hope for the Austrians.

She said she had received information in conversation with the Algerian
foreign and interior ministers that they were still alive as of April 8.

Until now, March 17 was the date given for the last sighting of any of the
missinng Austrians.

They are among 31 European travellers missing without trace deep in the
Sahara, an area frequented by smugglers, drug runners and a militant group
linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.

Due to confusion over figures, the number of missing was earlier erroneously
reported as 33.

Although the region the tourists were travelling in has largely been spared
the violence that has swept most of Algeria, there has already been
speculation the tourists might have been kidnapped by a radical Islamic
group known to be active in the region.

Ferrero-Waldner said Algerian military and security personnel were
conducting an intensive search. - Sapa-AFP