ALGERIA/ GERMANY: GERMANY RELIEVED OVER RELEASE OF SIX GERMANS HELD BY ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS IN THE DESERT

Record ID: 574571

  • Title: ALGERIA/ GERMANY: GERMANY RELIEVED OVER RELEASE OF SIX GERMANS HELD BY ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS IN THE DESERT
  • Date: 14th May 2003
  • Summary: (W4)ALGIERS, ALGERIA (MAY 14, 2003) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. PAN UP EXTERIOR GERMAN EMBASSY WITH FLAGS 0.03 2. CLOSE OF GERMAN FLAG 0.05 3. CLOSE OF EMBASSY SIGN 0.11 4. CLOSE OF GERMAN BADGE 0.13 5. SMV SECURITY OUTSIDE EMBASSY 0.17 6. CLOSE OF SECURITY CAMERAS ON EXTERIOR OF BUILDING 0.19 7. SLV MAN STANDING BY EMBASSY DOOR 0.22 8. CLOSE OF GERMAN EMBASSY NAMEPLATE IN GERMAN AND ARABIC 0.26 9. WIDE OF MAN WALKING FROM EMBASSY 0.29 10. SLV MAN WALKING TO CAR 0.32 11. SLV GERMAN DIPLOMAT ENTERING EMBASSY 0.36 12. WIDE OF SECURITY AND POLICE VEHICEL OUTSIDE GERMAN EMBASSY 0.41 13. WIDE OF EXTERIOR AUSTRIAN EMBASSY IN ALGIERS 0.43 14. SMV AUSTRIAN FLAG ON TOP OF EMBASSY 0.46 15. CLOSE OF NAMEPLATE /BADGE OUTSIDE AUSTRIAN EMBASSY (2 SHOTS) 0.53 16. SLV SECURITY OUTSIDE AUSTRIAN EMBASSY 0.55 17. WIDE OF EXTERIOR SWEDISH EMBASSY 1.01 18. CLOSE OF SWEDISH EMBASSY SIGN 1.05 19. PAN UP TO SWEDISH AND EUROPEAN UNION FLAG OUTSIDE EMBASSY 1.10 20. WIDE OF EXTERIOR SWISS EMBASSY 1.14 21. VARIOUS OF SWISS EMBASSY / FLAG 1.20 22. CLOSE OF ALGERIAN AL AKHBAR NEWSPAPER READING: "FREEING OF 17 TOURISTS BY ALGERIAN SECURITY FORCES" 1.23 23. CLOSE OF ALGERIAN LIBERTE NEWSPAPER READING: "17 TOURISTS FREED YESTERDAY" 1.27 (W5)BERLIN, GERMANY (MAY 14, 2003) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 24. SLV WALTER LINDNER, GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, WALKING UP STAIRS 1.32 25. VARIOUS LINDNER SPEAKING TO JOURNALISTS (3 SHOTS) 1.44 26. WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE 1.48 27. SMV LINDNER SEATED 1.55 28. WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE 2.00 29. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (German) THOMAS LINDNER, DEPUTY GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAYING: "Regarding the hostage taking in Algeria, the German government is relieved that it was possible to secure the release of some of the hostages, among them six Germans. But we remain in a precarious situation and we are deeply concerned about the fate of those who remain in the hands of the hostage-takers." 2.29 30. WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE 2.33 31. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (German) WALTER LINDNER, GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SAYING: "As the agencies have already reported, we have confirmed that a group of (formerly) disappeared tourists are in Algiers, among them six Germans. They are currently being taken care of by the German ambassador in Algiers, Hans Peter Schiff. Considering the circumstances, the Germans are doing well. They are in good shape." 2.59 32. WIDE OF JOURNALISTS LISTENING 3.04 33. SIDE SHOT OF LINDNER 3.08 34. WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE 3.13 35. VARIOUS PICTURES OF TOURISTS ON WEBSITES (3 SHOTS) 3.28 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 29th May 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ALGIERS, ALGERIA/BERLIN, GERMANY
  • City:
  • Country: Algeria
  • Reuters ID: LVA97NJKUSUBP35F4LPUI1KHTLBG
  • Story Text: Germany has expressed relief over the release of six
    Germans held by outlawed Islamist militants in the Sahara
    desert for two months.



    A total of 32 tourists -- 16 Germans, 10 Austrians,
    four Swiss, a Dutchman and a Swede -- disappeared in late
    February and early March in a remote scenic desert region in
    southern Algeria famous for its ancient grave sites.

    The adventure holidaymakers vanished while travelling in
    different groups without guides in off-road vehicles and were
    believed to be held at separate locations in the desert
    region.

    "The German government is relieved that it was possible to
    secure the release of part of the hostages, among them six
    Germans," deputy government spokesman Thomas Steg told
    reporters in Berlin on Wednesday (May 14).

    "But we are deeply concerned about the fate of those who
    remain in the hands of the hostage takers," Steg said.

    Speaking about the six released Germans, foreign ministry
    spokesman Walter Lindner said: "Considering the circumstances,
    the Germans are doing well. They are in good shape."
    Algerian armed forces freed 17 European tourists kidnapped
    by outlawed Islamist militants with suspected al Qaeda links
    and held for two months in the Sahara desert, according to
    authorities.

    The fate of 15 other European adventure tourists,
    including 10 Germans, was unclear.

    An Algerian armed forces statement said the tourists had
    been held by the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat
    (GSPC) and were freed by Algerias armed forces (ANP).

    The GSPC, suspected of having links to Osama bin Laden's
    al Qaeda network, is waging a war against Algerian
    authorities.



  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register