1) Official wire of #alQaeda in #Yemen has just released a plea for freedom by @UN official kidnapped with 4 colleagues in February. It's emotional. Some is scripted, some clearly not. Begs for #AQAP demands to be met or "get the body bags ready" 
2) Incredibly bizarre ending appears to implicate #China:
Captive reads from script, saying his message was recorded on 9 Aug following🇬🇧Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan. He says that #China warned there would be consequences.
#AQAP #Yemen #alQaeda #Kidnapping
Captive reads from script, saying his message was recorded on 9 Aug following🇬🇧Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan. He says that #China warned there would be consequences.
#AQAP #Yemen #alQaeda #Kidnapping
3) Other points of note
-We do not see or hear the other 4 captives
-Conditions clearly stressful (no daylight, no fresh air)
-Mentions mental & physical health issues
-Warns of same fate as Luke Somers
-No actual demands included
-We do not see or hear the other 4 captives
-Conditions clearly stressful (no daylight, no fresh air)
-Mentions mental & physical health issues
-Warns of same fate as Luke Somers
-No actual demands included
4) Why release plea now 6 months after kidnap?
-1st thought is: leverage to push back separatist gains after recent unrest in south #Yemen
-If really about Pelosi Taiwan visit why wait 4weeks? (Note it follows UN report on #China #HumanRights abuse)
-Other more complex options...
-1st thought is: leverage to push back separatist gains after recent unrest in south #Yemen
-If really about Pelosi Taiwan visit why wait 4weeks? (Note it follows UN report on #China #HumanRights abuse)
-Other more complex options...
5) I think @musakaze is right that the reference to Pelosi's Taiwan visit is probably meant to prove the 9 August date. It's a poorly articulated time-stamp.
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