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Last update - 19:33 10/03/2008
Al-Qaida: We nabbed 2 Austrians in response to IDF Gaza actions
By News Agencies
Tags: kidnapping, Al Qaida 

Al Qaida's North Africa wing said on Monday it was holding two Austrian tourists it had abducted in Tunisia on Feb. 22, linking its action to an Israeli offensive in Gaza.

Al Jazeera television aired an audio recording by a man who identified himself as Salah Abou-Mohammad - a spokesman of al Qaida Organization in the Islamic Maghreb - and said the group will soon announce its demands in exchange for the release of the abducted tourists.

"The spokesman said in the tape that the group will announce its conditions for the release of the two tourists at a later stage," an Al Jazeera presenter said. The channel did not broadcast that part of the recording.
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Abu-Mohammed said the hostages were kidnapped in retribution to the West's cooperation with Israel, but added that the two were in a good condition. He warned Western tourists against visiting the north African state, which attracts visitors from several European countries.

"We tell Western tourists ... the hand of the mujahideen can reach you wherever you were on Tunisian soil," he said. "This apostate Tunisian state cannot protect you," he said.

Western tourists were "searching for pleasures in Tunisia while our folk in Gaza are being slaughtered by the Jews with consent from Western countries whose governments are killing our brothers in every (Muslim) country", he added.

Austrian media had identified the two tourists as Andrea Kloiber, 43, and Wolfgang Ebner, 51. Abou-Mohammad said they were a nurse and a consultant and gave similar sounding names with an Arabic accent.

Austrian foreign ministry spokesman said the government was trying to verify the report, adding that the two were officially classified as missing.

Family members had already launched publicity campaigns for information on their whereabouts.

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      1.   Austrian tourists??!!??!! 19:41  |  The Judge 10/03/08
      2.   In response to IDF actions 19:42  |  William 10/03/08
      3.   Yet Another Inhumane Outrage: The Failure to Confront 19:57  |  Brad 10/03/08
      4.   aL-Qaida No friend of the Palestinians 20:08  |  pal 10/03/08
      5.   Just a bunch of terrorists , seeking media attention. 20:23  |  Stephen. 10/03/08
      6.   Israeli state terrorism 20:25  |  Paul Wood 10/03/08
      7.   Ali slaps Akhmed.Akhmed slaps Mahmoud. Logical?? 20:28  |  Israel Hazak 10/03/08
      8.   Al-Qaida Are Cowards Thats why they grab Tourist 20:37  |  Dish It Out 10/03/08
      9.   Sad liberal hate-monger#6 - paul wood 20:52  |  William 10/03/08
      10.   To # 1 20:57  |  Milo 10/03/08
      11.   Israeli state terrorism/Paul Wood 20:58  |  Gary 10/03/08
      12.   Religion of Peace?!!!! 21:00  |  Rightster 10/03/08
      13.   #8 - Dish it out - Thanks for bringing it up 21:02  |  William 10/03/08
      14.   Paul Wood #6 21:04  |  Mike 10/03/08
      15.   #9 William 21:16  |  Paul Wood 10/03/08
      16.   Israel and Islamic Fundamentalism. 21:32  |  Brad 10/03/08
      17.   #6 21:41  |  andy 10/03/08
      18.   Oh, no, please don`t take the Austrians! 21:41  |  McQueen 10/03/08
      19.   #6 Why should Israel be lifting any fingers? 21:44  |  McQueen 10/03/08
      20.   War with Tunesia? 21:57  |  Piet Miller 10/03/08
      21.   Paul Wood 22:00  |  Avrum 10/03/08
      22.   The Palestinians& this includes Hamas are a soft spoken lot! 22:02  |  lakshmi 10/03/08
      23.   Austrians VS Gaza thats a crime that 22:02  |  Deba 10/03/08
      24.   # 9. William. Enjoyed your post. 22:03  |  Stephen. 10/03/08
      25.   Sensible tourists avoid Muslim countries. Try Israel instead 22:04  |  Realist 10/03/08
      26.   `the west` should find and save them. 22:08  |  anup 10/03/08
      27.   TRUE HEROES! 22:11  |  Iskander 10/03/08
      28.   Al-Qaida and Hamas are allies 22:17  |  The Proof 10/03/08
      29.   So siding with Arabs doesn`t save your ....??? 22:26  |  Michael 10/03/08
      30.   aljazeera propaganda 22:31  |  Leila 10/03/08
      31.   Proud of Israel 22:33  |  Michael 10/03/08
      32.   lakshimi, no difference 22:41  |  judith 10/03/08
      33.   #6 Antisemitic Comments / Mrs Waldner bashes Israel 22:41  |  Semsem 10/03/08
      34.   Paul Wood 22:46  |  Ehud 10/03/08
      35.   Islamic Terror has been around well before Israel#6 23:02  |  Alan 10/03/08
      36.   Cowards 23:28  |  Adam 10/03/08
      37.   Islam is a religion of peace NOT 23:36  |  Adrian de Klerk 10/03/08
      38.   Paul Wood 23:54  |  Cyasher 10/03/08
      39.   islamists = stupid 23:55  |  Joey 10/03/08
      40.   # Troll Wood, er Paul Wood 00:08  |  Jabotinsky 11/03/08
      41.   Paul#15 - Osama Bin laden may not have a history book 00:12  |  William 11/03/08
      42.   Paul Wood #15 "not bothered about what happened 10 centuries ago" 00:32  |  A Jew 11/03/08
      43.   MORE Religion of Peace.Do they plan decapitation? throat cutting? 01:04  |  PETER SM 11/03/08
      44.   PAUL WOOD 01:36  |  Brant 11/03/08
      45.   paul wood 01:39  |  alan 11/03/08
      46.   Leila#30 - Osama bin Laden hasn`t directly attack Israel either 01:43  |  William 11/03/08
      47.   OK Al-Qaida, now that you have them.... 01:43  |  leo 11/03/08
      48.   this is an easy call 02:05  |  natan 11/03/08
      49.   Paul Wood 02:09  |  natan 11/03/08
      50.   Lakshmi 02:16  |  natan 11/03/08
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