Moscow asks Niger for help after Russian company employees taken hostage

Moscow asks Niger for help after Russian company employees taken hostageMOSCOW, August 9. /TASS/. Russia sent Niger an official request for help after the taking hostage of two employees apparently of a Russian company, one being a citizen of Russia and the other of Ukraine, the spokesperson said in a comment from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova.'Terrorists from the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (GSIM), which has pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda*, launched on July 18 in southwest Niger, near the village of Mbanga (Tillaberi region ), an attack on geologists carrying out mining exploration work and on the guards ensuring their security. Four people were kidnapped and several Nigerien soldiers were killed, the text indicates. A video with two hostages was published on social networks on August 2. One of them introduced himself as Oleg Gret and the other as Yuri (according to some reports, the first is Russian and the second has Ukrainian nationality). According to the hostages, they worked in Niger for a Russian company and 'were arrested' by the GSIM. Geologists have made no statement about possible terrorist claims. »'Russia sent an official request to the leaders of Niger to provide the necessary assistance in the context of these events,' adds Maria Zakharova. The Russian Embassy in Bamako (Mali), which represents our interests in Niger, remains in contact with the Nigerien authorities. The call for help was also launched to Malian partners. »Russia plans to 'redouble its efforts to free the hostages.' 'We are firmly convinced that terrorists and other destructive forces will not be able to hinder the shifting cooperation between Russia and the countries of the Sahara and Sahel region,' declared the official representative of the Russian Ministry of Affairs foreign.Source : Burkina Information Agency