North Mali Extremists Call For Negotiations About Kidnapped Algerian Diplomats

The extremist group calling itself “Al-Jihad wal Tawheed Movement in West Africa”, recently split from “al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb” (AQIM), called on the Algerian government on Saturday to negotiate the release of the Algerian consul and six of his assistants, who were kidnapped in the city of Gao (north-East of Mali) during the recent wave of unrest following a military coup in Bamako against Malian President Amadou Toumani Touré

• The Qatari Al Jazeera news network broadcast a video on Saturday night showing the Algerian hostages in a good health. An “Al-Jihad wal Tawheed” spokesperson called on the Algerian government via the video tape to negotiate about releasing the hostages, saying they were in a good health and well-treated.

• The spokesperson denied local newspaper reports that negotiations had already started.

• A representative of the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) said that his movement offered to move the Algerian consul and his assistants away from Gao to Mali’s border area with Niger, but the consul is said to have rejected the proposal upon his government’s recommendation.

• The MNLA representative argued that his movement was not responsible for the kidnapping.

• The MNLA’s official spokesperson, Hama Sayed Ahmed, had earlier denied that the Algerian hostages were released.

• Hama Sayed Ahmed said the latest information was that “al-Tawheed wal Jihad” fighters have moved the hostages back to the Algerian consulate’s headquarters in Gao, before taking them again to an unknown place.

• Hama Ahmed also revealed his movement was negotiating with the kidnappers to release the Algerian diplomats and let them return back to their country safe and sound.

• Meanwhile, Algeria’s interior minister Daho Ould Kablia earlier hinted at the prospect of closing Algeria’s borders with Mali saying they were “subject to strict monitoring, but a complete closure is not ruled out, the decision lies with the foreign ministry”.

• He revealed that Algerian citizens were still crossing the border to escape the dangerous conditions in north Mali.

• An official source who wished to remain anonymous told reporters it was not likely the Algerian government would open negotiations with “al-Jihad wal Tawheed”, saying the Algerian government’s adamant position of not negotiating at all with terrorist groups was “crystal-clear and permanent”.

• “Al-Jihad wal Tawheed” extremist group had earlier declared its responsibility in the kidnapping of the 7 Algerian diplomats, after an armed attack targeted the Algerian consulate’s headquarters in Gao, north of Mali, which had been under the control of Tuareg rebels and other Islamist groups.