Reuters: Italian, German tourists kidnapped on Niger: Chad border

[Eugene]

Italian, German tourists kidnapped on Niger: Chad border

Reuters
Tuesday, August 22, 2006; 8:22 AM

ROME (Reuters) - Twenty-one Italian tourists and an unspecified number
of Germans have been kidnapped on the border of Niger and Chad, the
Italian foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

One German among the kidnapped group managed to escape and report
the abduction to German authorities, said the ministry, adding it could
not rule out a ransom demand.

"A group of tourists, including 21 of Italian nationality, was attacked
in the late afternoon yesterday (Monday) by a group of outlaws in the
desert area of south-east Niger, near the border with Chad, near Lake
Chad," said a ministry statement.

-snip-

The Italian government advises tourists against visiting the area, which
it describes as "particularly dangerous."

-snip-

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/22/AR2006082200366.html

UPDATE: Kidnapped Italian tourists found in Niger - Reuters

[shain from kane]

1. There go my vacation plans. n/t

[On the Road]

2. As Much as I Would Like to Visit the Sahara

This type of trip is completely insane. Can't understand why Chad is not on the list of the world's most dangerous places.

http://www.comebackalive.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=11&sid=d1599167a74bde2235e379695994bed6