Al-Qaeda's north African branch, currently holding four French hostages, has welcomed news that...
Al-Qaeda's north African branch, currently holding four French hostages, has welcomed news that hundreds of French soldiers will be pulling out of Afghanistan, a source close to the mediation said Friday.
"The announcement of the coming departure of hundreds of French soldiers from Afghanistan has been well received by the kidnappers of the four French hostages," said the source.
Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) in April released a video demanding French President Nicolas Sarkozy withdraw his troops from Afghanistan as a condition for the release of the hostages, kidnapped nine months ago from northern Niger.
According to sources close to the negotiations, this was accompanied by a ransom demand of 90 million euros ($130 million).
At the time, the demand was rejected by Paris.
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