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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Deadline set for Austria hostages | Deadline set for Austria hostages |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Al-Qaeda in North Africa has issued a deadline for the release of two Austrian tourists it claims it abducted in Tunisia last month. | Al-Qaeda in North Africa has issued a deadline for the release of two Austrian tourists it claims it abducted in Tunisia last month. |
| In an internet statement, the militant group gave Austria three days to secure the freedom of members held in Algeria and Tunisia in exchange for the two. | In an internet statement, the militant group gave Austria three days to secure the freedom of members held in Algeria and Tunisia in exchange for the two. |
| The group posted images of the pair, whom it says it seized on 22 February, surrounded by militants in a desert. | The group posted images of the pair, whom it says it seized on 22 February, surrounded by militants in a desert. |
| Austrian media named the two as Andrea Kloiber, 43, and Wolfgang Ebner, 51. | Austrian media named the two as Andrea Kloiber, 43, and Wolfgang Ebner, 51. |
| The statement said: "Austria is responsible for the lives of the two hostages in the event of the expiration of the time period and not responding to our demands." | The statement said: "Austria is responsible for the lives of the two hostages in the event of the expiration of the time period and not responding to our demands." |
| Face obscured | Face obscured |
| The woman in the photographs, said to be Ms Kloiber, was shown wearing a blue headscarf and her face was digitally obscured. | The woman in the photographs, said to be Ms Kloiber, was shown wearing a blue headscarf and her face was digitally obscured. |
| Analysts say this may be because showing a woman's face is prohibited under radical Islamist beliefs. | Analysts say this may be because showing a woman's face is prohibited under radical Islamist beliefs. |
| Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik said on Thursday efforts were being made to secure the release of the hostages but noted the demands were outside Vienna's jurisdiction. | |
| Relatives reported them missing when they did not return from a holiday to Tunisia on 1 March. | Relatives reported them missing when they did not return from a holiday to Tunisia on 1 March. |
| Tunisia, a popular destination for European holidaymakers, has seen attacks on tourists by al-Qaeda in the past. | Tunisia, a popular destination for European holidaymakers, has seen attacks on tourists by al-Qaeda in the past. |
| In 2002, a truck bomb outside a synagogue on the Tunisian island of Djerba killed 21 people, including 14 German tourists. | In 2002, a truck bomb outside a synagogue on the Tunisian island of Djerba killed 21 people, including 14 German tourists. |