Remaining hostages freed

2003-05-19 13:20

Algiers - Special forces of the Algerian army have freed the remaining 15 hostages held by a shadowy Islamic group in the Algerian Sahara, several sources told Deutsche Presse-Agentur DPA on Monday.

The sources, primarily local tourist guides, said that people had been killed or injured in the pre-dawn operation, but they were not able to provide further details.

The Algerian army units had received the go-ahead on Sunday to liberate the hostages - ten Germans, four Swiss and one Dutch national - who were held in a rugged mountainous area about 150km northwest of the city of Illizi and 1 200km south of the capital Algiers.

The information of the hostage liberation was not officially confirmed. Earlier on Monday, the Algerian newspaper Al Youm, citing Algerian security sources, had reported that the hostages were freed.

A first group of tourists that were held hostage in another area of the Algerian Sahara since at least mid-February was freed last Tuesday by the Algerian army after a pitched battle in which 9 kidnappers and one soldier were reportedly killed.

However, according to an unconfirmed report by Radio France Internationale, the liberation came after a ransom of several million dollars was paid.

Since the affair began, the Algerian government and the governments of the hostages have maintained a stony silence. - Sapa-DPA

- SAPA