Saturday, January 8, 2011

Two French kidnapped in Niger

Two French nationals have been abducted in the city of Niamey in Niger, Friday, January 7, by two individuals described as "armed and wearing turbans," witnesses said. The two French nationals were at Le Toulousain in the center of the capital, when kidnappers broke and forced to follow, said a staff member at the agency.

"When they entered, they fell on both French and they shouted: 'You and you, follow us." In the rush, one of the attackers lost his turban. When they came out with two French, I took my car, I have hunted for about a mile, but as they spun at high speed and all lights out, I could not catch them, "said one customer in the restaurant at this time of facts .

The two kidnappers "were skinned and spoke Arabic," he added. Local police confirmed that "the warning was already given to any attempt to intercept the kidnappers." In France, the Foreign Ministry said it had "learned the information." "We are fully mobilized in Paris and Niamey to verify it," assured the Quai d'Orsay.

France is currently trying to secure the release of five French, held hostage in northern Niger since September by Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). On 1 December, the Foreign Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said that the hostages, mainly employees of the French group Areva and Satom were still alive, given the latest information available to France.

The Islamist group had announced in July the execution of another French hostage, Michel Germaneau humanitarian, whose body was never found.

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