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Desperate need to find nuclear workers kidnapped in Niger

Who is behind the kidnapping of French nuclear workers?, France24, 17 sept 10, In a bid to rescue seven foreign nuclear workers abducted in Niger, French authorities are trying to determine whether the daring kidnapping operation is the work of a local Touareg rebel group or al Qaeda’s North African branch. By Mehdi Chebil
Under the cover of darkness overnight Wednesday to Thursday, a group of armed men eluded security checks before snatching a French employee of nuclear firm Areva and his wife. They then proceeded to seize five more workers of another French company, Sogea Satom, before making off discreetly from the supposedly secure uranium mining town of Arlit, 1,000 kilometres north of the Nigerien capital Niamey.

Identifying the group behind the kidnapping is now the most urgent task facing French and Nigerien authorities. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the abduction. The fate of the hostages could be completely different depending on whether they were kidnapped by local Touareg rebels or by al Qaeda’s North African affiliates….

France24 – Who is behind the kidnapping of French nuclear workers?

September 17, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | antinuclear, AREVA, France, nuclear secrecy