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French national abducted in Algeria French national abducted in Algeria
(35 minutes later)
A French man has been kidnapped while on holiday in eastern Algeria, the French foreign ministry has confirmed.A French man has been kidnapped while on holiday in eastern Algeria, the French foreign ministry has confirmed.
The man was seized on Sunday in the restive Tizi Ouzou region in the east, the ministry said. The man was seized on Sunday in Tizi Ouzou in the restive north-east region of Kabylie, the ministry said.
It did not confirm the authenticity of a video posted on the internet purporting to show the man reading out a statement. It did not confirm the authenticity of a video posted on the internet purporting to show the man reading out a statement flanked by armed men.
In the video, the man calls on French President Francois Hollande not to intervene in Iraq.In the video, the man calls on French President Francois Hollande not to intervene in Iraq.
Earlier, militants from the Islamic State (IS) group warned they would target France - and other countries - after it launched air strikes against them in Iraq.Earlier, militants from the Islamic State (IS) group warned they would target France - and other countries - after it launched air strikes against them in Iraq.
The Algerian militant group Jund al-Khilifa, which has pledged allegiance to IS, said it carried out the kidnapping, AFP news agency reported, although this has not been confirmed, In the video, militants who say they are members of the Algerian group Jund al-Khilifa threaten to kill their hostage unless France ends its military operation in Iraq.
An Algerian security official told AP news agency that the kidnap victim was a 55-year-old man who was hiking with two friends when he was abducted. The man is flanked by two armed, masked men and says he was taken hostage on Sunday.
The area where the Frenchman was taken is a mountainous region, and there have been several kidnappings of Algerian businessmen for extortion in the area. An Algerian security official told AP news agency that the kidnap victim was a 55-year-old man who had been hiking with two friends when he was abducted.
Most of those who were abducted were later freed by security forces, AFP said. Kabylie is a rugged, mountainous region which has seen several kidnappings of Algerian businessmen for extortion.
Al-Qaeda's North Africa branch, AQIM, and other militant groups are known to operate in Algeria. Most of those who were abducted were later freed by security forces.
France on Monday lifted the threat level for 30 of its embassies throughout the Middle East and Africa after beginning its first air strikes against IS targets in Iraq on Friday. Al-Qaeda's North Africa branch, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), and other militant groups are known to operate in Algeria.
AQIM has carried out deadly attacks in Kabylie this year.
France on Monday raised the threat level for 30 of its embassies throughout the Middle East and Africa after beginning its first air strikes against IS targets in Iraq on Friday.
It has said that everything must be done to remove IS militants from the region.It has said that everything must be done to remove IS militants from the region.