AQIM DEMANDS FOR THE RELEASE OF AUSTRIAN HOSTAGES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ALGIERS 000318

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2028
TAGS: ASEC PTER KISL AG
SUBJECT: AQIM DEMANDS FOR THE RELEASE OF AUSTRIAN HOSTAGES

REF: A. TUNIS 227

B. ALGIERS 109

Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROBERT S FORD. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (SBU) On March 13 Al-Qaeda in the Lands of Islamic
Maghreb (AQIM) posted a communique on a Jihadi website
(www.shmo5alislam.net/vb/) with its conditions for the
release of the two Austrian hostages Wolfgang Ebner and
Andrea Kloiber (ref A). AQIM demanded the release of some of
its members held in Tunisian and Algerian jails in exchange
for the Austrian hostages. The communique did not list the
prisoners' names, but AQIM claimed they delivered the list to
the negotiating parties. AQIM urged the hostages' families
and the Austrian public to press their government to respond
to AQIM demands before a grace period expired on March 16,
adding that if the prisoners were not released, the
hostages' lives would be in great jeopardy.


2. (C) The Algiers Arabic-language daily An-Nahar, which is
well connected to the Algerian intelligence services,
published on March 15 an article providing the names of five
of the prisoners AQIM wants released. An-Nahar also reported
that AQIM had opened a negotiation process with the Austrian
government through the Austrian embassy in Algiers. The
newspaper claimed that AQIM had provided the Austrians with
the names of the following prisoners:

-- Amari Saifi aka El-Para: A deserter from the Algerian
paratroops and former GSPC number-two; mastermind behind the
abduction of 32 European tourists in 2003 in the Algerian
Sahara. He was captured in 2004. (There are conflicting
reports in the Algerian press as to whether El-Para is among
those AQIM hopes to release. El-Para is scheduled to go on
trial for terrorism in the eastern Algerian city of Biskra on
March 24.)
-- Fateh Bouderbal aka Abdel-Fatah Abou Basir: Emir of
AQIM's Algiers katibat, who also held a position as AQIM
external relations director. Known to be very influential
among AQIM leadership. He was captured in 2007.
-- Mohamed K: Assistant to Fateh Bouderbal. According to
An-Nahar, he was captured with Bouderbal in 2007.
-- Fares K: Assistant to Fateh Bouderbal. According to
An-Nahar, he was also captured with Bouderbal in 2007.
-- Samir Saioud aka Samir Moussaab and Moussab abu Abdallah:
A terrorist released under a GoA amnesty in 1999 who then
re-joined the GSPC. According to An-Nahar, he was AQIM
Deputy Commander and a ruthless terrorist. He was captured
again in 2007.


3. (U) The March 13 communique displayed six pictures, two of
which are allegedly AQIM members on Tunisian soil planning
the kidnapping operation. AQIM claims the operation is
headed by Sheikh Abd Al-Hameed Abu Zayed aka Abd Hamdou, emir
of AQIM's Tareq Bin Ziyad Battalion (which operates in the
Algerian Sahara region bordering northern Mali),under the
leadership of AQIM Southern Region Emir Abu Yahia Djouadi.
The remaining four pictures allegedly were taken outside
Tunisia, showing the two hostages dressed in Afghan outfits
and surrounded by AQIM elements carrying RPGs and AK-47s.
The Austrian woman's face is digitally disfigured in the
photo, apparently in response to the conservative Salafist
belief that a woman's face should always be covered.


4. (C) Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem told the local
press March 14 that Algeria was "not involved" in the
Austrian hostage crisis. He added that the Austrians were
kidnapped outside Algeria, and according to Algerian
information, the hostages were not in Algeria. Thus, the
Prime Minister concluded, the Austrian hostages are not an
Algerian problem. Meanwhile, the Tunisian Defense Attache in
Algiers was adamant with us on March 12 that the hostages
were not taken from Tunisian soil, but rather that the
Austrians got lost and wandered into Algeria by accident. He
added they had not followed Tunisian National Guard rules,
which require tourists to notify the nearest National Guard
office before excursions into the southern Tunisian desert.


5. (C) COMMENT: With the Algerian government downplaying its
involvement in the negotiating process and Tunisian officials
in Algiers denying the hostages were kidnapped on Tunisian
soil, there is uncertainty here about the nature of the

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negotiations between the Austrians and AQIM and the fate of
the hostages. March 17 media reports said that AQIM had
extended its deadline. If the Austrians pay a ransom (some
local papers have suggested an amount of 5 million euros),
AQIM's financial problems will be temporarily eased and the
group could buy more weapons. Securing the release of key
AQIM prisoners would allow the group to redeploy experienced
leaders whose help AQIM appears to need. We judge it highly
unlikely, however, that the Algerian government would release
any AQIM prisoners, especially given its public refusal to
acknowledge a part in this affair.
FORD