Malian rebels to release kidnapped Algerian diplomats

The release of people arrested on Algerian soil in Gao An al-Qaeda offshoot that claimed the abduction in the Malian city of Gao of the Algerian consul and six of his aides,  is willing to release them, one of the group's members said Monday. "We have agreed to the release of seven people arrested on Algerian soil in Gao," a member of the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) told AFP by phone, in reference to the group abducted fom the consulate on April 5.
"We made an agreement with our brothers from Ansar al-Dine (Partisans of Sharia)," an Islamist group that has seized control of much of northern Mali together with Tuareg rebels in recent weeks, the spokesman said.
He did not give further details.
A Mali security official in Bamako had earlier said that Ansar al-Dine was negotiating their release with MUJAO.
Ansar Dine "is currently involved in negotiations to free the seven employees from the Algerian consulate in Gao," the security official said.
The seven kidnapped diplomats, taken at gunpoint from the consulate in Gao, in north-eastern Mali, are in good health, Algeria's foreign minister said Monday.
"The information we've received shows the Algerian hostages are doing well," Mourad Medelci told state-run news agency APS, adding that Algerian authorities were in contact with the kidnappers.
"We expect this will soon bear fruit," he said.
Medelci earlier said that Algeria thought there was a "real chance" the diplomats would be freed.
"We are confident in the nature of our relations with our Malian brothers, because Algeria has always backed efforts of all parties to enable Tuaregs to live with dignity in their country, Mali," Medelci said.
Meanwhile, Medelci and Arab League secretary-general Nabil al-Arabi on Monday called for a ceasefire and the start of a political process to end the Syrian crisis.
“There’s now an international consensus on two points: a global ceasefire and the start of a political process,” al-Arabi told reporters at a press conference with Medelci, in the Algerian capital, Algiers.
“A political solution cannot be considered separately from today’s goal of achieving a ceasefire,” he said.
Al-Arabi said the ball was now in the court of international envoy Kofi Annan, whose peace plan for Syria, which includes a ceasefire between Syrian troops and rebels, has led to a drop in recent violence. He added that the Arab League was in contact with Annan about the latest developments.
Medelci in turn said his country had "noticed a reduction in the level of violence in the last few days".
"But that is not enough, as a complete ceasefire is essential for reaching a political solution," said the foreign minister.
Medelci admitted the Arab League member states were going through a very critical period: "Our efforts won't stop to respond to recent developments in the region, according to our people's ambitions for change and reform."