'Millions' paid for (Sahara) hostages

[dArKeR]

Germany paid a ransom as high as €15m (about R122m) to kidnappers of 14 European hostages, released from nearly six months' captivity in the Sahara desert, sources close to the negotiations said on Saturday.

"There was no way out of the situation," a source told AFP in the Malian capital. "The hostage-takers insisted (on being paid)."

"That was the only thing holding up freeing the hostages, a week before they were liberated. Berlin had to give in," the source added.

The exact amount was not revealed, but varying sources said it amounted to between three and 10 billion CFA francs (€4.2m to €15.2m).

http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,6119,2-11-1447_1406213,00.html

http://darker0darker.tripod.com/

[tlb]

1. And now every German tourist is a bankable commodity.

You'd think they'd learn.

[dArKeR]

2. Come on, Reagan was the first to pay for hostages in modern times!

Mr. GOP