April 07, 2008
Al Qaeda Says It's Not Responsible for Fate of Austrian Hostages
Ominous news from Africa as the kidnappers of Austrian tourists Andrea Kloiber and Wolfgang Ebner blame Austria for letting a negotiating deadline expire and say they "did everything possible" to resolve the hostage crisis. Via PR-Inside Austria:
CAIRO, Egypt (AP) - Al-Qaida in Islamic North Africa posted a new Internet message on Monday saying it won't be held responsible for the fate of two Austrian tourists it kidnapped two months ago, according to a U.S. group that monitors jihadist Internet traffic.In the posting, the al-Qaida affiliate claimed it was «absolving» itself of responsibility for what happens to the Austrians and also set new demands that include the release of two Muslim prisoners in Austria, the Washington-based SITE Intelligence Group said.
The posting came just hours after a deadline by al-Qaida for conditions to be met for the Austrians' release expired at midnight Sunday. It gave no indication on the whereabouts of the two hostages, Wolfgang Ebner and Andrea Kloiber, who went missing while on vacation in Tunisia in February.
