Mauritania troops clash with AlQaeda kidnappers/France urges nationals out of Niger after kidnapping

[Turborama]

Source: AFP

Mauritanian troops Saturday clashed in Mali with Al-Qaeda's north African wing, the key suspect in the kidnapping of five French and two African uranium workers in Niger, security sources told AFP.

"The clashes began on the Mauritania-Mali border but then moved on to Malian territory at Hassissidi, about 100 kilometres (60 miles) north of Timbuktu," a Malian security source said. "We are presently in Malian territory and engaged in full combat," added a Mauritanian security source.

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Before dawn on Thursday, gunmen kidnapped an employee of the French nuclear group Areva and his wife, both French, and five others, including a Togolese and a Madagascan, from Satom, a subsidiary of construction giant Vinci, in northern Niger.

Security sources in Niger and Algeria said Friday that the gunmen and their hostages had "crossed the border" between Niger and Mali and were in the Malian desert.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100918/ts_afp/nigerkidnapfrancemali_20100918074124

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Al Jazeera English on this: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2010/09/201091864827197188.html">Mauritania troops 'battle al-Qaeda'



France urges nationals out of Niger after kidnapping

Published: 10:26AM Saturday September 18, 2010

Source: Reuters

France urged its nationals to quit danger zones in Niger after saying it suspected an al Qaeda group of kidnapping seven foreigners in the country, including five French citizens.

The Foreign Ministry issued the warning to French nationals after Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner accused al Qaeda's North African wing (AQIM) of the abductions, although there has been no claim of responsibility.

Niger's military was searching for the hostages and an officer said that pilots in light aircraft had spotted three vehicles travelling at high speed through the Tamesna region towards the Malian border.

The hostage takers and their abductees were seen travelling across the border from Niger into the desert of Mali, French public radio reported, citing security sources.

Full article: http://tvnz.co.nz/world-news/france-urges-nationals-niger-after-kidnapping-3784381

[Lucky Luciano]

1. Damn...I have been thinking about going to the Festival au Desert in Essakane, Mali,

Which is about 100 miles north of Timbuktu. Sort of the African version of Burning Man...sort of.

[Uncle Joe]

2. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Turborama.