Al Qaeda wants 15$ million for releasing Swiss hostage, and even harder conditions for releasing the Saudi diplomat

Al Qaeda wants 15$ million for releasing Swiss hostage, and even harder conditions for releasing the Saudi diplomat

By Nasser Arrabyee, 06/05/2012

Al Qaeda asked for 15 million dollars as a ransom for releasing a Swiss woman, said a source close to the kidnappers on Sunday. 

And Al Qaeda also asked for the release of eight women in  Saudi prisons in return for releasing the Saudi diplomat. Al Qaeda kidnapped the Swiss woman and Saudi diplomat last March.

Earlier on Sunday, the deputy minister of interior Mohammed Abdullah Al Kawsi, said  the two hostages the Saudi and the Swiss would be released within 24 hours. 

" What I know is Al Qaeda wants 15 million dollars for releasing the Swiss woman, and they want the release of eight women from prisons of Saudi Arabia for them to release the Saudi diplomat," said one the rival leaders in Shabwah who is in contact with the kidnappers. 

"This is what they told me yesterday, if the hostages are released today as Al Kawsi said this means that their conditions were met," said the tribal leader.

Meanwhile, two American military airplanes arrived Saturday in  Al Anad Base in Lahj province, with Marines and equipments on board, said military sources Monday.

A group of well-trained snipers arrived in Lawdar to participate in the battles against Al Qaeda which started  early last month, the sources said.