MAIL Online: An Islamic extremist group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of a group of tourists in west Africa, including a Briton. According to SITE Intelligence, a US group which monitors extremist websites, the claim comes from al Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).
The tourists - a Briton who was working in Austria, two Swiss citizens and a German woman - were seized near the border between Niger and Mali on January 22.
The group released images of some of the captives and also said it was holding two Canadian diplomats seized two months ago.
AQIM spokesman Salah Abu Muhammad made the claim in an an audio message, SITE said.
He reportedly said: "We announce to the general public that the mujahideen reserve the right to deal with the six kidnapped according to Islamic Shariah (law).
"On the other hand, the mujahideen will announce later, Allah willing, their conditions in exchange for the release of the kidnapped." >>> By Mail Foreign Service | Thursday, February 19, 2009
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