Western Saharaminister blames Moroccan authorities over aid workers kidnapping

2011.12.17 hakim
 
Western Saharadefence minister Mohammed Lamine Al- Bouhali has yesterday dwelt on the details of the kidnapping of the three European aid workers at the refugees camp as well as the failed negotiations with one the leaders of the AQIM Mokhtar Belmokhtar.
 
 
    
    Taking the floor before journalists on the sidelines of Polisario’s 13th Assembly, the minister has indicated that the number of kidnappers arrested has reached 7 individuals that were operating into two groups across the borders between Mauritania and Algeria as well as Northern Mali.
    
    Al- Bouhali has further noted that the Western Sahara forces clashed with the leader of the terrorists while trying to flee leaving behind four of his henchmen. The security forces have arrested eight terrorists on the same day.
    
    The minister has indicated that those elements are drug smugglers operating in Northern Mali and use state of the art telecommunication devices but have no link with Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.
    
    Al Bouhali has indicated that the drug barons have supplied the kidnappers with arms, ammunition and vehicles, adding that the mastermind has provided two armed vehicles to the kidnappers “ They have kidnapped the European tourists in order to “sell” them to Al Qaeda”.
    
    The minister has openly accused the Moroccan intelligence services of being an active part in the operation putting forward the Moroccan authorities’ communiqué over dissentions within Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.
 
http://www.echoroukonline.com/eng/world/15317-western-sahara-minister-blames-moroccan-authorities-over-tourists-kidnapping.html
 
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