Dispute Over Ransom Delays Release Of Austrian Hostages
By
CBS Investigates
/ CBS News
(Echorouk)
Algerian daily, Echorouk, published an article today saying that negotiations between Austrian authorities and the kidnappers of the two Austrian hostages are still underway. The paper said the two sides were very close to striking a deal to release the hostages but a last minute panic by the kidnappers put everything on hold. It also suggested that differences over the 5 million Euro ransom between the group that handled the kidnapping – Tariq Ben Ziad Brigade, under the leadership of Yehya Jawadi (AKA Abu Ammar), and the leadership of AQIM could be the reason behind this delay.
