Hungry strike by Algerian Islamist

Abassi Madani, Exiled leader of the Algerian Islamic Salvation Front has begun a hunger strike "until death" in Qatar in solidarity with civilians taken hostage in Iraq, including our four friends, calling on the presumed Islamist kidnappers to "immediately free" the captives. "This is a humanitarian duty because it is a humanitarian battle. It would be wrong to confine it to political or ideological dimensions," he said. We are grateful to Abassi Madani for taking such a strong action in support of our friends.