A group of families in northern Mali has complained about the French and Mauritanian armies, accusing them of having kidnapped two civilians after the July 22 attack against an alleged al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQMI) base, where the French intelligence expected to find the French hostage Michel Germaneau. ‘Radio France internationale’ (Rfi) said that the complaint is backed by some local officials. One of them told RFI that after the raid against the alleged terrorists, the soldiers crossed the rural area of Salam, entered a small camp inhabited by many women (many of whom were pregnant,) and started to shoot in the air, scaring everyone. The military, said witnesses, then arrested two men, one 16 the other 35 years old. “Maybe they need them for their dossier, to pass them off as insurgents” said a local source to RFI. According to a version of the events, the military operation was planned by Mauritanian forces to uncover the alleged AQMI group, which was accused of trying to set up a bombing attack against Mauritania. The French stepped in to try to secure the release of their fellow citizen Germaneau. The latter was not being held at the camp that came under fire, but six insurgents were killed. Two days later, AQMI sent a statement claiming responsibility for the killing, even if some pictures suggest he died earlier because of ill health. His body has not been found yet.[AB]