Magharebia

The al-Qaeda offshoot holding seven Algerian diplomats in northern Mali threatened Sunday (April 29th) that the hostages' lives were in danger. The Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), which kidnapped the men on April 5th at their consulate in the northern city of Gao, issued the warning in comments to AFP, following negotiations with Algeria.

"The Algeria delegation completely rejected our demands," MUJAO spokesperson Abu Walid Sahraoui said.

MUJAO, which has also claimed responsibility for the Tindouf kidnappings of three European aid workers, said last Wednesday that it would undertake "other measures" if Algeria rejected its demands.