DUBAI, March 13 (Reuters) - Al Qaeda's North African wing said on Thursday it had given Austria three days to secure the release of some of its militants held in Algeria and Tunisia in return for two Austrian hostages abducted in Tunisia.

The group said in a statement posted on an Islamist Web site that it had informed the Austrian government of the ultimatum which will start at midnight on Thursday, without giving a time zone.

The group posted pictures of the man and woman. It said it had seized them on Feb. 22.

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