Kidnapped Italian woman speaks on Al-Qaeda tape

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Kidnapped Italian woman speaks on Al-Qaeda tape

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An Italian woman kidnapped in Algeria in early February said she was being held by Al-Qaeda's North African wing, according to an audio recording aired by Al Arabiya television.

18 February,2011 06:11 am

“I am Maria Sandra Mariani, the Italian that was kidnapped on Wednesday 2 February 2011 near Djanet in Algeria. I am still being detained by Al-Qaeda Islamic Maghreb, a battalion commanded by Abdelhamid Abou Zeid. I ask Al Arabyia to publish this message”, a woman said in the message aired by the news channel, speaking in French.Al Arabiya television said on Thursday that it had obtained an audio message from the woman after being contacted by telephone by a spokesman for Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) who claimed the abduction and said she was alive. The 56-year-old woman tourist was kidnapped by armed men in Algerias Sahara desert, where insurgents operating as AQIM have been active. The militants have kidnapped several foreigners, but most of their earlier activities had been in areas of the desert south of Algerias borders.