Dubai - 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.
“Maria Sandra Mariani, I am the Italian woman kidnapped on Wednesday, February 2, 2011 near Djanet in Algeria,” a woman said in the message aired by the news channel, speaking in French.
Al Arabiya television said on Thursday 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.
“I am still being held by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb... I ask Arabiya to please publicise this message. Thank you,” the woman said in the recording.
The 56-year-old woman tourist was kidnapped by armed men in Algeria's 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 Algeria's borders.
AQIM emerged out of a long conflict between security forces and Islamist militants in northern Algeria.
Under pressure from Algerian security forces in the north, it moved some of its operations to the desert area straddling Niger, Mali, Algeria and Mauritania where the vast expanses and porous borders have provided it with a safe haven. - Reuters