Way cleared for hostages to be freed

Fifteen European tourists kidnapped four months ago in the Sahara may be released soon because the Algerian authorities have promised their kidnappers free pasage to Libya. The Algerian daily el-Watan reported yesterday that the tourists - 10 Germans, four Swiss and a Dutchman - were still being held in the desert

Security sources told the paper that the kidnappers of the 15, who have been held separately from another 17 tourists who were freed by Algerian commandos in mid-May, had contacted them in recent days.

They were replying to leaflets dropped in the desert near their hideaway in the llizi region, 950 miles south-east of Algiers, offering them safe passage if the hostages remained unharmed. Their reply was reportedly brought to the police by a nomad who had been approached by the group. It apparently said the hostages had enough water but were short of food.

Those released in May said they had been subjected to exhausting night marches to stay ahead of the police.

President Abdelaziz Bouteflika had said he was prepared to let the kidnappers go to save the hostages.