Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Conflicting Reports on French Operations to Free Hostage VOA News 24 July 2010 There are conflicting reports Saturday on whether French-backed military operations in West Africa to free a French hostage there are continuing. French security sources told reporters Saturday operations with local troops in the region had ventured into Mali. But the sources differed on whether the operation was continuing late Saturday or had been suspended. Friday, the French Defense Ministry announced it had provided logistical and technical support to Mauritanian troops in an operation against the al Qaida group believed to be holding 78-year-old Michel Germaneau. The ministry did not reveal when or where the operation took place.  Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb has given France 15 days from July 12 to arrange a prisoner exchange for Germaneau's release. They threatened to kill him if Paris does not meet the deadline. The terrorist group operates across a vast desert region that includes Algeria, Mali, Niger, and Mauritania. The Spanish daily El Pais reported Friday French commandoes had killed six militants in their raid, but said they found no sign of Germaneau.  The al-Qaida group killed British captive Edwin Dyer last year after London refused to yield to its demands. The group is also holding two Spanish aid workers kidnapped in November.  Germaneau and his Algerian driver were kidnapped in the vast desert region near Niger's border with Algeria and Mali in April. The driver was released later that month. Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters. .