May 30, 2008
Austrian Hostages Held 100 Days
VIENNA (AFP) — Austrians held hostage by an Al-Qaeda linked group spent their 100th day in captivity on Friday, as the Austrian government voiced confidence in their eventual release."Our work is characterised by confidence," said Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal, foreign ministry spokesman and spokesman for the crisis team handling the case.
"Everyone working for their release believe that the two hostages are still alive," Launsky-Tieffenthal said.
Wolfgang Ebner, 51, and Andrea Kloiber, 44, were seized in Tunisia on February 22 by Al-Qaeda's north African offshoot but are now believed to be held in Mali...
...Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb only acknowledged responsibility for the kidnapping on March 10. The kidnappers initially demanded the release of a number of Islamic extremists imprisoned in Algeria and Tunisia.
Then they later asked for the withdrawal of Austrian troops from Afghanistan and the release of two Islamic militants jailed in Vienna, with unconfirmed press reports saying a five million euro (7.9 million dollars) ransom was also being sought.
