The Austrian Foreign Ministry is examining the claims made by al Qaeda™s North African branch regarding the group™s kidnapping of two Austrian nationals last seen on the Tunisian-Algerian border last month. Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb has said any military raid launched to free the hostages will have “consequences” for the victims. Security sources said the kidnaper is Yahia Djouadi, alias Yahia Abu Amar Tiarti, the same terrorist behind the slaying of seven border guards in El Oued province southeast of Algeria.
