5 000 search for tourists
2003-05-07 23:28
Algiers - A total of 5 000 members of the security forces aided by three aircraft and three helicopters are scouring a 30 000 square kilometre region in southern Algeria in search of 31 tourists missing in the Sahara, a parliamentary commission for tourism said Wednesday.
Earlier, Interior Minister Nouredinne Zerhouni had warned of endangering ongoing search operations in the desert, the daily Le Soir d'Algerie quoted him as saying.
He had on Tuesday denied any negotiations or contact with the kidnappers of the 31 tourists.
The fate of the 31, including 15 Germans, was uncertain, he said, adding, that he did not know whether, "The tourists have been kidnapped or whether they have become lost", according to the commission report.
Ten other tourists are Austrian nationals, four are Swiss, one is Dutch and one is a Swede.
His comments caused confusion, as the Minister for Tourism Lakhdar Dorbani had spoken on Sunday of negotations to free the 31 tourists, which Zerhouni then denied.
The tourists went missing in February while crossing the Sahara desert in separate tour groups. - Sapa-DPA
- SAPA