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French national is abducted in Algeria French national is abducted in Algeria
(about 1 hour later)
A French national has been kidnapped while on holiday on Sunday in eastern Algeria, the French foreign ministry has confirmed.A French national has been kidnapped while on holiday on Sunday in eastern Algeria, the French foreign ministry has confirmed.
The abduction comes hours after Islamic State militants warned they would target France - and other countries - after it launched air strikes against them in Iraq.The abduction comes hours after Islamic State militants warned they would target France - and other countries - after it launched air strikes against them in Iraq.
The kidnap took place in the Tizi Ouzou region of Algeria, the ministry said.The kidnap took place in the Tizi Ouzou region of Algeria, the ministry said.
No group has so far claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.No group has so far claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.
An Algerian security official told the AP news agency that the kidnap victim was a 55-year-old man who was hiking with two friends when he was abducted.An Algerian security official told the AP news agency that the kidnap victim was a 55-year-old man who was hiking with two friends when he was abducted.
Correspondents say that if it is confirmed that a French person has been kidnapped by militants, it would be one of the first abductions of a foreigner by them in the North African country since Algeria ended its decade-long war with Islamist fighters in the 1990s.
The area where the Frenchman was taken is a mountainous region, the AFP news agency reported, and there have been several kidnappings of Algerian businessmen for extortion in the area. Most of those who were abducted were later freed by security forces, AFP said.
Al-Qaeda's North Africa branch, AQIM, and other militant groups are known to operate in Algeria.
France on Monday lifted the threat level to 30 of its embassies throughout the Middle East and Africa after beginning its first air strikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq on Friday.
It has said that everything must be done to remove the militants from the region.
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