Al-Qaida's North Africa branch says it is holding captive two Canadiandiplomats and four Western tourists kidnapped in Niger.
The groupcalling itself "al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb" says it is holdingCanadian diplomat Robert Fowler and his aide Louis Guay who werekidnapped in Niger in December. The group is also claimingresponsibility for last month's abduction of four Western tourists nearthe border with Mali.
In an audio recording aired by al-Jazeeratelevision, a spokesman for the group said he was "glad to bring goodtidings" about the success of what he called "two quality operations inNiger." Spokesman Salah Abu Mohammed said militants reserve the rightto deal with their six captives under Islamic law and will soon issueconditions for their release.
Fowler is a former foreign policyadvisor to several Canadian prime ministers and served as his country'sambassador to Italy and the United Nations. He is currently U.N.Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's special envoy to Niger.
Fowler,Guay, and their local driver, Soumana Mounkaila, disappeared December14 when their vehicle was found abandoned with its doors open andmotor running in the Karma area, about 40 kilometers outside thecapital Niamey. The three were thought to be returning from a visit toa gold mine operated by a Canadian company.
Tuareg rebels inNiger immediately claimed responsibility for their capture, saying itwas a message to all diplomats who collaborate with President MamadouTandja. But hours later, the same group backed-off that claim, sayingcivilians and diplomats are not part of its fight against the Tandjagovernment.
President Tandja said last month that investigationsby his security forces indicate the men are being held hostage byterrorist groups, referring to Tuareg rebels in northern Niger.
Thefour tourists - two Swiss nationals, one German, and one Briton - wereabducted on their return from a nomadic cultural festival January 22. Malian officials initially blamed Tuareg rebels for that kidnapping aswell.
Tuareg fighting for greater autonomy for their traditionalSaharan homeland are battling both the governments of Mali and Niger ina long-running conflict. Mali's military launched an offensive lastmonth that it says captured all the main rebel bases in the north-east.
Several hundred former fighters who surrendered to Malian troops this week are expected to join the national army.
Al-Qaidain the Islamic Maghreb is a Sunni group that was formerly known as theSalafist Group for Preaching and Combat. It began as an insurrectionagainst Algeria's secular military rulers after the government canceledthe second round of parliamentary elections in 1992 when it appeared acoalition of Islamist groups might take power.
It has sinceexpanded and aligned itself with the broader al-Qaida terroristnetwork, claiming responsibility for suicide bombings in Algeria lastyear and the kidnapping of two Austrian tourists in Tunisia who werelater freed in Mali. It is considered a terrorist group by the U.S.State Department and the European Union.