On an audio tape released by the Al-Jazeera television network on Tuesday, a spokesman for al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) said "two units of the valiant mujahedeen managed to kidnap four Europeans in two distinct operations."

Citing the names of the French and Spanish hostages, Saleh Abu Mohammad said "France and Spain will be informed later of the legitimate demands of the mujahedeen."

AQIM abducted Frenchman Pierre Camatte, who cultivates a plant with anti-malaria properties in Mali. He was taken from his hotel in the northern Sahel region of the country at the end of November.

The three Spaniards were kidnapped by the terrorist organisation in Mauritania a few days later, during a mission for Barcelona Accio Solidaria to deliver humanitarian aid to West Africa.

Spain confirms reports

The Spanish Foreign Ministry has already confirmed the authenticity of the tape recording. In a statement released on Tuesday afternoon it said experts investigating the audio were convinced the claim was credible.

"The recording specifies the names of those kidnapped," the statment said. "No demands have been made for their release but it said it would do so in later messages to the respective governments."

Shortly after the November kidnappings, Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba went on record saying the crimes bore the hallmarks of AQIM.

Local analysts say the North African al Qaeda off-shoot is targeting France and Spain - two countries involved in the fight against the Maghreb terror group - in order to bargain for the liberation of their own fighters.

Earlier this year, the US monitoring group SITE said AQIM had claimed responsibility for the murder of Briton Edwin Dyer.

tkw/AFP/reuters
Editor: Trinity Hartman