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| French hostage beheading: President Hollande holds crisis talks | French hostage beheading: President Hollande holds crisis talks |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| France's defence council is to hold a crisis meeting after the beheading of tourist Herve Gourdel by Algerian militants linked to Islamic State (IS). | France's defence council is to hold a crisis meeting after the beheading of tourist Herve Gourdel by Algerian militants linked to Islamic State (IS). |
| The meeting was called by President Francois Hollande, who condemned the killing as "cruel and cowardly". | The meeting was called by President Francois Hollande, who condemned the killing as "cruel and cowardly". |
| Jund al-Khilafa group killed Mr Gourdel after giving France an ultimatum to halt its air attacks on IS in Iraq. | Jund al-Khilafa group killed Mr Gourdel after giving France an ultimatum to halt its air attacks on IS in Iraq. |
| Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Thursday France would consider targeting IS in Syria as well as Iraq. | Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Thursday France would consider targeting IS in Syria as well as Iraq. |
| Islamic State has seized large areas of Syria and Iraq in recent months. | Islamic State has seized large areas of Syria and Iraq in recent months. |
| 'Never cede to terrorism' | 'Never cede to terrorism' |
| Ahead of Thursday's crisis meeting, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said "everything would be looked at again", including "what we want to do in Iraq and what will happen in Syria". | Ahead of Thursday's crisis meeting, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said "everything would be looked at again", including "what we want to do in Iraq and what will happen in Syria". |
| French warplanes have been taking part in US-led air strikes against IS in Iraq since last Friday, and on Thursday carried out new raids. | French warplanes have been taking part in US-led air strikes against IS in Iraq since last Friday, and on Thursday carried out new raids. |
| However, it has so far refrained from joining the US and several Arab states in attacking targets in Syria. | However, it has so far refrained from joining the US and several Arab states in attacking targets in Syria. |
| Mr Le Drian told French radio that it was "a question that is on the table". But he added: "The opportunity is not there today. We already have an important task in Iraq." | Mr Le Drian told French radio that it was "a question that is on the table". But he added: "The opportunity is not there today. We already have an important task in Iraq." |
| On Wednesday, President Hollande said despite the killing of Mr Gourdel, 55, French strikes in Iraq would continue. | On Wednesday, President Hollande said despite the killing of Mr Gourdel, 55, French strikes in Iraq would continue. |
| "France is going through an ordeal through the murder of one of its citizens, but France will never give in to blackmail," Mr Hollande told the UN General Assembly. | "France is going through an ordeal through the murder of one of its citizens, but France will never give in to blackmail," Mr Hollande told the UN General Assembly. |
| "The fight against terrorism must continue and be stepped up." | "The fight against terrorism must continue and be stepped up." |
| Speaking on the sidelines of the assembly, he said that Mr Gourdel - who was seized on Sunday - had been killed because he was a representative of French people who "defend human dignity against barbarity". | Speaking on the sidelines of the assembly, he said that Mr Gourdel - who was seized on Sunday - had been killed because he was a representative of French people who "defend human dignity against barbarity". |
| "France will never give in to terrorism because it is our duty, and, more than that, because it is our honour.'' | |
| 'Terrible shock' | 'Terrible shock' |
| Several French cities, including Mr Gourdel's home city in Nice, had flags flying at half mast on Thursday. | |
| A government spokesman said flags across the country would be lowered from Friday to Sunday. | |
| The head of the French Council of the Muslim Faith called on fellow Muslim leaders to meet on Friday to condemn militant attacks carried out in the name of Islam. | |
| Jund al-Khilafa (Soldiers of the Caliphate) posted a video on Wednesday of Mr Gourdel's murder, entitled "Message of blood for the French government". | Jund al-Khilafa (Soldiers of the Caliphate) posted a video on Wednesday of Mr Gourdel's murder, 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 Britain's taxi driver Alan Henning, who was seized while on an aid mission to Syria in December. | The group has also threatened to kill Britain's taxi driver Alan Henning, who was seized while on an aid mission to Syria in December. |
| French and Algerian newspapers react to murder | French and Algerian newspapers react to murder |
| "Executed for being French," says French daily Liberation, framing his photo in black on its entire front page. "Murdered," is the headline in La Depeche du Midi. | "Executed for being French," says French daily Liberation, framing his photo in black on its entire front page. "Murdered," is the headline in La Depeche du Midi. |
| France is now "plunged into fear", says Cecile Cornudet in Les Echos, adding: "It's the role of a political leader to stop that fear from turning into panic." | France is now "plunged into fear", says Cecile Cornudet in Les Echos, adding: "It's the role of a political leader to stop that fear from turning into panic." |
| Dominique Quinio, in Catholic newspaper La Croix, says the French authorities are not to blame but "those who have decided that those who don't think or live like them…no longer have a place on Earth". | Dominique Quinio, in Catholic newspaper La Croix, says the French authorities are not to blame but "those who have decided that those who don't think or live like them…no longer have a place on Earth". |
| In Algeria, state-owned daily Ech-chaab calls the murder "a cowardly action and a hideous crime". | In Algeria, state-owned daily Ech-chaab calls the murder "a cowardly action and a hideous crime". |
| The entire front page in privately-owned daily Al-Fadjr carries the headline: "The return of brutality?!" | The entire front page in privately-owned daily Al-Fadjr carries the headline: "The return of brutality?!" |
| Born in the southern French city of Nice, Mr Gourdel worked as a mountain guide in the Mercantour national park in the Alps. | Born in the southern French city of Nice, Mr Gourdel worked as a mountain guide in the Mercantour national park in the Alps. |
| He had also been organising treks through the Atlas Mountains of Morocco for some 20 years, and had also visited Nepal and Jordan. | He had also been organising treks through the Atlas Mountains of Morocco for some 20 years, and had also visited Nepal and Jordan. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | The beheading, the spokesman says, is to "avenge the victims in Algeria... and support the caliphate" proclaimed by IS in Iraq and Syria. |
| In Nice, residents expressed their horror over the killing. | In Nice, residents expressed their horror over the killing. |
| "It's a terrible shock," Deputy Mayor Christian Estrosi was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency. | "It's a terrible shock," Deputy Mayor Christian Estrosi was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency. |
| He added that Mr Gourdel's family had reacted to his death "with dignity, anger and an unspeakable pain". | He added that Mr Gourdel's family had reacted to his death "with dignity, anger and an unspeakable pain". |
| Who are Jund al-Khilafa? | Who are Jund al-Khilafa? |