Cablegate: Niger: Update On French Hostages

VZCZCXRO1980
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHNM #0625 1761214
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 241214Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4387
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0697
RUZEHAA/CDR USEUCOM INTEL VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

UNCLAS NIAMEY 000625

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC MOPS FR NG
SUBJECT: NIGER: UPDATE ON FRENCH HOSTAGES

REF: NIAMEY 616

1. (U) The MNJ has claimed on its website that the GON
delayed for 48 hours giving authorization to the ICRC travel
to the north to pick up the four French uranium workers
kidnapped on June 22 (reftel). It also claims that early in
the morning of June 24 the Nigerien Armed Forces used
recently acquired attack helicopters to bomb MNJ positions,
which it suggests puts at risk the four French hostages as
well as a number of government troops being held by the MNJ.

2. (SBU) The French DCM confirmed that as of 2:00 p.m. local
time, the MNJ still held the four French hostages.

ALLEN

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