ALGIERS, 15 May 2003 — Algerian troops stormed an extremist militant hide-out deep in the Sahara and rescued unharmed 17 European adventure tourists held for two months, but were still searching for 15 others, the army said yesterday.
“After a brief assault against the terrorists ... the group of 17 detained tourists ... were freed, healthy and unharmed,” the national armed forces said in a statement.
“Intense searches are still taking place in southern Algeria to find and free the foreign tourists held by a second terrorist group,” the Interior Ministry said — but a military source said the search in tough terrain may not yet have begun.
The daily El-Watan, citing security sources, said Tuesday’s shootout lasted several hours and the 100 special forces troops carrying out the operation killed at least nine armed militants. Diplomats said they were worried about 10 Germans, four Swiss and one Dutchman still believed held by the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) near the southern Tuareg city Illizi, some 1,200 km south of the capital Algiers.
The attack freed 10 Austrians, six Germans and a Swede held by the GSPC near the town of Tamanrasset, the armed forces said.
They were taken to Algiers on Tuesday evening for a check-up at a military hospital and yesterday flew home — smiling, showing victory signs with their fingers and some carrying flowers as they left. They appeared generally healthy.
Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel expressed delight at the operation which freed all the missing Austrians.
