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French hostage Herve Gourdel 'beheaded in Algeria' French hostage Herve Gourdel beheaded in Algeria
(35 minutes later)
An Algerian jihadist group has released a video that appears to show the beheading of French tourist Herve Gourdel, who was seized on Sunday. France has confirmed that an Algerian jihadist group linked to Islamic State (IS) militants has beheaded tourist Herve Gourdel, seized on Sunday.
Jund al-Khilafa, an ally of the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria and Iraq, had set a 24-hour deadline for France to halt air strikes on IS in Iraq. Jund al-Khilafa killed Mr Gourdel, 55, after its deadline for France to halt air strikes on IS in Iraq ran out.
Mr Gourdel, 55, was abducted in the north-east Kabylie region. French President Francois Hollande condemned the killing as a "cruel and cowardly" act.
France joined US air strikes on IS in Iraq last week but has not taken part in strikes on the group in Syria. He said that French air strikes which began on IS targets in Iraq last week would continue.
French President Francois Hollande and Prime Minister Manuel Valls publicly rejected the group's ultimatum on Tuesday. Jund al-Khilafa posted a video of Mr Gourdel being killed which was entitled "Message of blood for the French government".
The video of Mr Gourdel apparently being killed was entitled "Message of blood for the French government".
IS itself has beheaded three Western hostages since August: US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and British aid worker David Haines. Their deaths were all filmed and posted online.IS itself has beheaded three Western hostages since August: US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and British aid worker David Haines. Their deaths were all filmed and posted online.
The group has also threatened to kill Alan Henning, a taxi driver from the UK, who was seized while on an aid mission to Syria in December.The group has also threatened to kill Alan Henning, a taxi driver from the UK, who was seized while on an aid mission to Syria in December.
On Sunday, it warned it would target Americans and other Western citizens, "especially the spiteful and filthy French".On Sunday, it warned it would target Americans and other Western citizens, "especially the spiteful and filthy French".
'Odious ultimatum''Odious ultimatum'
Mr Gourdel was a mountain guide in the Mercantour national park north of the French city of Nice. Police have been guarding Mr Gourdel's home in the French city of Nice. He worked as a mountain guide in the Mercantour national park north of the city.
He had been organising treks through the Atlas Mountains of Morocco for some 20 years, AFP news agency reports. He had also been organising treks through the Atlas Mountains of Morocco for some 20 years, AFP news agency reports.
In the video posted by his killers, he is shown on his knees with his hands behind his back in front of four masked, armed militants.
He is allowed briefly to express his love for his family before one of the militants reads out a speech in which he denounces the actions of the "French criminal crusaders" against Muslims in Algeria, Mali and Iraq.
The beheading, the spokesman says, is to "avenge the victims in Algeria... and support the caliphate" proclaimed by IS in Iraq and Syria.
Jund al-Khilafa (Soldiers of the Caliphate) pledged allegiance to IS on 14 September.Jund al-Khilafa (Soldiers of the Caliphate) pledged allegiance to IS on 14 September.
Until then it had been known as part of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), which grew out of an Algerian militant group and is now active across North and parts of West Africa.Until then it had been known as part of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), which grew out of an Algerian militant group and is now active across North and parts of West Africa.
Who are Jund al-Khilafa?Who are Jund al-Khilafa?
The group claimed Toulouse gunman Mohamed Merah, a French citizen of Algerian origin, as a member after he killed seven people in south-western France in March 2012, French radio reports.The group claimed Toulouse gunman Mohamed Merah, a French citizen of Algerian origin, as a member after he killed seven people in south-western France in March 2012, French radio reports.
The militants said that they were responding to the IS call to attack citizens involved in strikes on Iraq and would kill Mr Gourdel unless France ended its military operation.The militants said that they were responding to the IS call to attack citizens involved in strikes on Iraq and would kill Mr Gourdel unless France ended its military operation.
On Tuesday, President Hollande said: "As grave as this situation is, we will not give into any blackmail, any pressure, any ultimatum no matter how odious, how despicable."On Tuesday, President Hollande said: "As grave as this situation is, we will not give into any blackmail, any pressure, any ultimatum no matter how odious, how despicable."
France's public position is that it does not negotiate with militant groups but there have been reports of French citizens being released in West Africa after ransoms have been paid.France's public position is that it does not negotiate with militant groups but there have been reports of French citizens being released in West Africa after ransoms have been paid.
Four Frenchmen kidnapped in Niger were freed in October 2013 amid reports of a 20m-euro (£16m; £25m) ransom being paid. The government in Paris denied that was the case.Four Frenchmen kidnapped in Niger were freed in October 2013 amid reports of a 20m-euro (£16m; £25m) ransom being paid. The government in Paris denied that was the case.