Tourists Kidnapped in North-East Mali

Four Europeans have apparently been kidnapped in the Sahara desert. According to a BBC report, two Swiss, one German and a Briton are being held hostage by an unknown group. The tourists were on their way to a traditional Tuareg festival - the Anderamboukane Festival which is held every other year in the far north-east of Mali, in the Gao region. The festival was being held from 20 - 23 January and generally draws only the most intrepid tourists on organized tours, because of its remote location.

This area of Mali, close to the border with Niger, has seen recent clashes with Tuareg rebels, in late December 2008, the BBC reported the deaths of more than 20 people in a raid on a Malian army base.

Hopefully this is an isolated incident. The very popular Festival Au Desert which celebrates traditional Tuareg culture and music just took place in north-east Mali a few weeks ago without any problems.

More on this story:

• Europeans "Kidnapped in the Sahara" -- BBC Report
  
• European Tourists Kidnapped in Mali - VOA Report
  
• Briton among tourists kidnapped - The Independent

_{Image of Touareg Men in Timbuktu, Mali -- © Getty Images/Peter Adams}