Author: IANS
Publication: The Times of India
Date: January 8, 2010
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/Spain-refuses-ransom-to-al-Qaida/articleshow/5423665.cms
Spain has said it won't pay any ransom for
three of its aid workers kidnapped in Mauritania by the al-Qaida group in
Islamic Maghreb.
"The Spanish government does not pay
ransom, " said Prime Minister Jose Luis Rdriguez Zapatero Thursday.
"That position is clear and firm, "
Moratinos said at a summit here, stressing that Madrid was determined to resolve
the situation in a manner consistent with its international commitments towards
the fight against terrorism.
Albert Vilalta, 35, Alicia Gamez, 35, and
Roque Pascual, 50, who work for Barcelona-Accio Solidaria, were abducted November
29 last while transporting humanitarian aid on the highway that links Mauritania's
capital Nouakchott to Nouadhibou in the country's northern region.
During the summit, Zapatero assured his full
support to Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in his efforts to fight
against Islamic terrorism.
Spain thanked Algeria for the diplomatic aid
it has been providing to find a solution to the aid workers' abduction, for
which AQIM claimed responsibility.
