Kidnapped Qataris are are said to be between Mali, Mauritania
Qatar-Mauritania, Local, 12/14/2004

Sources said on Monday in Mali capital Bamako that the place of the two Qataris kidnapped on Saturday by an "armed gang" is on the border between Mali and Mauritania.

A military source in Mali said "we have specified the place where they exist on the border between Mali and Mauritania between Totidad town in Mali and Zweeinah in Mauritania." The source added "there is currently a deployment for the security forces of Mali and Mauritania along the borders," noting that "the kidnappers are almost besieged and cannot move a lot." Earlier on Monday a military source said the security forces in Mali on Sunday found one of the two cars which carry two Qatari citizens of the ruling family members who were kidnapped on Saturday by an armed group and transported them to Mauritania.

One of the area's chieftain who agreed to be a mediator to release the two Qataris said that they are in a good health, adding "I do not want to talk a lot about this issue. The two hostages are alive and the kidnappers called for a ransom of $ 300,000."

The two Qataris headed earlier for Mali to get the needed license and find out the place where they can hunt Habari birds.

The kidnapping operation took place on Saturday 60 km from Larneb, to the north west, an area in Mali close to the borders with Mauritania. Mali security forces were sent to the area, while Mauritania took the same measures, inside its border, according to military sources in Mali.

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