Al-Qaeda claims kidnapping seven foreigners in Niger

Niamey (Niger), Sep 22 (IANS/AKI) Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has claimed responsibility for last week’s abduction of seven foreigners, including five French citizens in Niger, a media report said.

“In announcing our claim for this operation, we inform the French government that the mujahideen will later transmit their legitimate demands,” a voice claiming to be AQIM spokesman Salah Abi Mohammed said in an audio message released Tuesday, according to Al-Jazeera.

“We also warn (the French government) against any sort of stupidity,” he added, in reference to a possible military operation.

French military planes have been combing the desert in an effort to locate the seven victims.

Niger’s government Tuesday also said Al-Qaeda was responsible for the abduction.

The kidnapping of five French citizens and nationals from Togo and Madagascar took place on the night of Sep 15 in the northern mining town of Arlit and involved employees of the French firms Areva and Vinci.

–IANS/AKI