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.


Sarkozy Says French Hostage Killed By Al-Qaida in North Africa

   VOA News 26 July 2010
   French Enmilal aid group member Michel Germaneau (2007 File)

Photo: AFP

   French Enmilal aid group member Michel Germaneau (2007 File)

   French  President  Nicolas Sarkozy has confirmed that a French hostage
   was killed by al-Qaida's branch in North Africa.
   President  Sarkozy  said  Monday  during  a  television  broadcast  he
   condemned  the  "barbarous act" against Michel Germaneau, a French aid
   worker.    Â
   In an audio message broadcast Sunday on the Arabic network Al-Jazeera,
   a man identified as the leader of al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb said
   Germaneau  was  killed  in  retaliation  for the death of six al-Qaida
   members during a raid last week in Mali.
   The  al-Qaida  leader  said  Mr.  Sarkozy was unable to free Germaneau
   through a "failed" military operation.
   Mr.  Sarkozy also urged French citizens to avoid traveling to Africa's
   Sahel  region.   Al-Qaida  in  the  Islamic  Maghreb  has carried out
   numerous attacks and kidnappings across the Sahara and Sahel regions.
   Germaneau,  a  78-year-old  engineer,  was kidnapped with his Algerian
   driver  near  Niger's  border  with  Algeria  and Mali in April.  The
   driver was later released.
   Al-Qaida  in  the  Islamic  Maghreb  had  given France until Monday to
   arrange  a prisoner exchange for Germaneau's release.  The group said
   in  an  Internet  statement  that Mr. Sarkozy would be responsible for
   Germaneau's life.
   The terrorist group operates across a vast desert region that includes
   Algeria, Mali, Niger and Mauritania.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

.