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Mali gunmen seize French national | Mali gunmen seize French national |
(40 minutes later) | |
A French national has been kidnapped in the north-eastern Mali town of Menaka by armed gunmen, officials say. | |
The man, whose identity has not yet been confirmed, was said to have been taken on Wednesday. | The man, whose identity has not yet been confirmed, was said to have been taken on Wednesday. |
The UK recently warned its nationals not to visit northern Mali because of the threat of attack by the North African branch of al-Qaeda. | The UK recently warned its nationals not to visit northern Mali because of the threat of attack by the North African branch of al-Qaeda. |
The group has seized several Westerners for ransom in recent months - sometimes kidnapping them in foreign countries. | |
The man, who was reportedly conducting research into malaria, was seized overnight from his Menaka hotel, AFP news agency reported. | |
The town is in the province of Gao, close to the border of Niger. | |
Vigilance | |
In a statement, the French foreign ministry warned its citizens of the risk of kidnapping in the region and urged those travelling outside of the capital Bamako to be "extra vigilant". | |
French embassy staff are working towards the release of the man. | |
In June British tourist Edwin Dyer was killed in Mali by militants. He had been kidnapped in Niger in six months earlier close to the border with Mali. | In June British tourist Edwin Dyer was killed in Mali by militants. He had been kidnapped in Niger in six months earlier close to the border with Mali. |
Last month the US said it was preparing to give Mali's army millions of dollars worth of military hardware to help them fight al-Qaeda's North African branch. | Last month the US said it was preparing to give Mali's army millions of dollars worth of military hardware to help them fight al-Qaeda's North African branch. |