PARIS, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) - The organization AQIM has released Tuesday September 21 Message on the Al-Jazeera, claiming the kidnapping of five French in Niger last Thursday.
In an audio message from his spokesman issued Tuesday evening by the television channel Al-Jazeera in Qatar, the organization of Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) claimed responsibility for the operation of the kidnapping of seven people including five of the French company Areva and Satom, informing the French government that "the Mujahedeen will subsequently submit their legitimate demands."
"We also warn (the French government) against any other stupidity," said the spokesman, referring to a military operation.
The track al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb had been raised as early last week by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner on the antenna of the radio station Europe 1. "At present, based on clues, we are able to say that the group that carried out the kidnapping is unacceptable to a group affiliated to the group of Abu Zeid is itself related to the nebula Al-Qaeda ", said a little rain early in the Nigerian government.
Areva said on Tuesday authorities had received a Nigerian letter dated 1 September, which drew threats of kidnappings in the region of Arlit.
Five French, four employees of the French nuclear group Areva and a Togolese and a Madagascan, were kidnapped Sept. 16 on the site of Arlit (northern Niger) before being transferred to Mali.
After the kidnapping, France sent military planes to fly reconnaissance Sahelian countries and try to find the hostages.
"We will not communicate on any measures taken by France to free the hostages, but there is obviously not idle .. "Said the spokesman of the General Staff of Armed Forces (EMA), Col. Thierry Burkhard Several special forces commandos under the Special Operations Command (SOC) s were preparing to 'fly to the region, according Sources close to the Defense Ministry, the Quai d'Orsay, however, asserted that "no French troops were engaged on the ground" and therefore not involved in the current Mauritanian army offensive against fighters of Al-Qaeda
In Paris, French President Nicolas Sarkozy met Tuesday evening a small board of defense and security at the Elysee Palace on issues of terrorism and hostages.
The government and police have reported in recent days of major terrorist threats to France.
Founded in 2007 in Algeria, AQIM had about 300-400 people, according to terrorism experts. Armed and knowledgeable, funded by the trafficking and hostage taking, members of the group travel across the Sahel.
Running a French hostage Michel Germaneau, held in the Malian desert since last April 19 and killed on July 25 last, was claimed by AQIM "in retaliation for a raid by French and Mauritanian forces .
