French attacked during Mali talks
2010-08-01 22:48
Cairo - Al-Qaeda's offshoot in North Africa has posted an audio message saying French commandos attacked while negotiations to free a French hostage were under way.
Abdelmalek Droukdel said in Sunday's message that French President Nicolas Sarkozy launched a "perfidious" attack in Mali killing six of his men.
The message was broadcast in part on July 25 by the Al-Jazeera Arabic news channel.
Droukdel said the group, in revenge, killed the hostage, Michel Germaneau on July 24 and that Sarkozy not only failed in freeing his citizen, but opened the "hell's door" on his people and country.
Germaneau, 78, was abducted on April 22 in Niger and was subsequently taken to Mali.
Al-Qaeda demanded that France help negotiate the release of its prisoners in countries in the region.
- AP