Niger: French commandos took part in Operation

French commandos took part in the attempt to free two French hostages in Niger Friday during an army operation in Niger, explained in Paris to several sources who say that the two hostages were executed by their captors. The political class has expressed his deep emotion and indignation following the killing of two hostages and the opposition has asked to be received by the government to be informed of the circumstances.

Answered a request by François Fillon, who will receive the parliamentary leaders Monday to 18 hours. But this is no time for polemics. François Hollande, has supported the intervention of French troops despite its tragic ending. "Since the Nigerian authorities have requested, it was legitimate and even necessary that French forces to help find our young citizens," said the former leader of the Socialist Party, called the Great Rendezvous Europe1/Le Parisien - Today in France.

"Me, I do not question the involvement of Nigerian forces backed by French forces," he insisted, saying it was necessary to "prevent the taking of hostages can be long" and the hostages' dispersed. The fear of the authorities was that French and Nigerian hostages are separated, as were probably five French kidnapped in September in northern Niger in Mali and transferred.

According to the French General Staff, Nigerian Army has decided to "very quickly" to chase the kidnappers. The objective was to intercept the kidnappers before they manage to cross the border with Mali, some 200 km north of Niamey, and disappear into the desert areas too vast to be controllable.

The transaction is then quickly coordinated with French elements in the region. A French Atlantique surveillance aircraft-2 (ATL-2), usually based in Chad and have the capability to listen and night vision, is mobilized to support the ground operation. "From there, we do let go," said the spokesman of the Defence Staff, Colonel Thierry Burkhard.

"The kidnappers were trying to gain refuge in an area further north," in Mali, where the situation would become "extremely sensitive" to the hostages. A first clash took place on a highway at a hundred kilometers from Niamey, and the detachment commander of the Nigerian national guard was wounded.

The kidnappers managed to escape and continue their progress towards Mali. Later, a new hanging occurred in the border area between the captors and the Nigerian army and elements of the French special forces. Two French soldiers were slightly wounded during the operation and "several" kidnappers "neutralized" - killed and wounded - says the staff.

"We find the lifeless bodies of two hostages. In view of the initial findings, it is very likely that they were executed by terrorists, "said Colonel Burkhard." We are sure that the hostages were not killed by friendly fire "French soldiers or the Nigerian army, "adds another military source.

Since the kidnapping of five French in September in northern Niger, French forces have established a system of interception in the region. In July 2010, a Franco-raid Malian Mauritanian territory had resulted in the death of a French hostage Michel Germaneau, humanitarian activist of 78 years removed on April 19 in northern Niger.

According to Staff, Michel Germaneau had perhaps been killed by his captors before this operation, in which the service activities of the DGSE (intelligence-cons) had intervened. The raid, which has changed the situation in the Sahel (Editions subscribers)

• 2 French Hostages Are Found Dead in Niger (09/01/2011)
• 2 French hostages found dead on Niger-Mali border (09/01/2011)
• 2 French Hostages Found Dead in Niger - New York Times (08/01/2011)
• Employ Niger Deltans in State Offices of Niger Delta Ministry - Atarie (09/01/2011)
• Two French hostages killed in Niger rescue attempt (09/01/2011)