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Sahara tourist 'kidnapped by al-Qaida' Algeria says rescue under way after 56-year-old Italian woman apparently taken by terrorist group's north African branch Djanet, Algeria Djanet, an oasis in the Algerian Sahara, is the nearest city to where the Italian tourist went missing. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images An Italian woman on a tourist trip to the Sahara desert in Algeria has been kidnapped by al-Qaida insurgents, Algeria's official news agency and a government security source have said. Insurgents operating as al-Qaida's north African wing have been active in the Sahara and have kidnapped several foreigners, but until now most of their activities have been south of Algeria. The woman was kidnapped on Wednesday night in the desert south of the town of Djanet, the official agency reported. It said a major operation, involving security services and the military, was under way to find the woman. The kidnappers allowed her to use a satellite phone to call her tour operator, who then notified the authorities. An Algerian government security source confirmed to Reuters that the woman had been kidnapped and said it was believed to be the work of a group of young men affiliated to al-Qaida's local branch, known as al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). The source said the hostage was a 56-year-old woman and she was in an area of the desert frequented by tourists when she was seized. She was kidnapped along with her guide and a cook, but they were released. The source said security services believe the kidnappers were former prisoners who joined AQIM soon after they were released five or six months ago. ------------------------------------ Post message: [email protected] Subscribe : [email protected] Unsubscribe : [email protected] List owner : [email protected] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
