This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/21/mali-kidnap-seventh-french-citizen
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Seventh French citizen kidnapped in Mali | Seventh French citizen kidnapped in Mali |
| (5 months later) | |
| A French citizen has been kidnapped in south-west Mali, far from the zone controlled by al-Qaida-linked militants where African countries are preparing a possible military intervention, officials say. | A French citizen has been kidnapped in south-west Mali, far from the zone controlled by al-Qaida-linked militants where African countries are preparing a possible military intervention, officials say. |
| The kidnapping brings to seven the number of French citizens being held in the divided west African nation where radical Islamists and native Tuareg rebels control the north. | The kidnapping brings to seven the number of French citizens being held in the divided west African nation where radical Islamists and native Tuareg rebels control the north. |
| Northern Mali fell to Islamist extremists in April, after coup leaders toppled the government in Bamako, Mali's capital. France has been helping to shape possible military intervention by Mali's army, perhaps bolstered by other African troops, to drive the Islamists from power. The former colonial power still has a military presence in the region and fears northern Mali could become a new base for jihad, destabilising the Sahel and ultimately threatening Europe. | Northern Mali fell to Islamist extremists in April, after coup leaders toppled the government in Bamako, Mali's capital. France has been helping to shape possible military intervention by Mali's army, perhaps bolstered by other African troops, to drive the Islamists from power. The former colonial power still has a military presence in the region and fears northern Mali could become a new base for jihad, destabilising the Sahel and ultimately threatening Europe. |
| "I confirm that there was a kidnapping of a French citizen in south-west Mali … not in the part where there is the most danger," the French president, François Hollande, said at a news conference on Wednesday, without elaborating. | "I confirm that there was a kidnapping of a French citizen in south-west Mali … not in the part where there is the most danger," the French president, François Hollande, said at a news conference on Wednesday, without elaborating. |
| There was some confusion over the location of the kidnapping. | There was some confusion over the location of the kidnapping. |
| The French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, said it took place in Nioro, a town across the border from Mauritania, but a Malian police official said armed men had taken the Frenchman in Diema, a town near Bamako. | The French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, said it took place in Nioro, a town across the border from Mauritania, but a Malian police official said armed men had taken the Frenchman in Diema, a town near Bamako. |
| The police official said the kidnapping happened during a stop at a cafe on the road that links Mali to Mauritania and Senegal. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to talk to the media. | The police official said the kidnapping happened during a stop at a cafe on the road that links Mali to Mauritania and Senegal. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to talk to the media. |
| The victim had been travelling alone in a "personal bus" and his belongings were left inside the vehicle. "This was the safest road in Mali, but unfortunately today no place in Mali is safe," the official said. | The victim had been travelling alone in a "personal bus" and his belongings were left inside the vehicle. "This was the safest road in Mali, but unfortunately today no place in Mali is safe," the official said. |
| Fabius reiterated a warning to French citizens not to travel to the region and said their country was doing its utmost, with Bamako, to free the latest hostage. | Fabius reiterated a warning to French citizens not to travel to the region and said their country was doing its utmost, with Bamako, to free the latest hostage. |
| Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, an affiliate of the global terror network, is holding seven French hostages, probably in northern Mali. Four of them were among seven people kidnapped in Niger in September 2010 while working with Areva and Vinci on uranium projects. Three were released. | Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, an affiliate of the global terror network, is holding seven French hostages, probably in northern Mali. Four of them were among seven people kidnapped in Niger in September 2010 while working with Areva and Vinci on uranium projects. Three were released. |
| Two others were kidnapped in November 2011 in Mali. | Two others were kidnapped in November 2011 in Mali. |
| guardian.co.uk today is our daily snapshot of the top news stories, sent to your inbox at 8am |