Kidnap threat against westerners at festival

It has been reported there have beenkidnap threats against Westerners who are attending the "Festival in the Desert" at Essakane situated 65 kilometres north of Timbuktu. The festival runs from the 8 -10 January. Essakane, and the “Sahara Nights” festival in Essouk which is situated 500 kilometres north east of Timbuktu, are both in areas of Mali to which the FCO have advised against all travel to.