TERRORISM: ‘Withdraw your forces,’ al Qaeda warns France
A purported message by Abdelmalek Droukdel (pictured), head of al Qaeda’s North Africa branch said the fate of French hostages depended on Paris dealing directly with Osama bin Laden and a troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. Read More
FRANCE: Iraqi Christians hurt in church attack arrive in France
Thirty-four Iraqi Christians and a Muslim guard hurt in last week’s al Qaeda attack on a Baghdad church arrived in Paris late Monday. French Immigration Minister Eric Besson said it was in France’s “tradition of asylum” to offer them treatment. Read More
TERRORISM: France will not bow to terrorist threats, says Sarkozy
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Friday his country would not cave in to terrorist demands after al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden threatened to attack French interests in retaliation for the country’s policies towards Muslims. Read More
TERRORISM: Bin Laden targets France, blasts burqa ban and Afghan war
In an audio tape aired on Al Jazeera television on Wednesday al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden targeted French interests, claiming the country’s burqa ban and the presence of French troops in Afghanistan justified the killing of French nationals. Read More
FRANCE: Saudi security warned of al Qaeda threats to Europe, France
French Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux said in an interview on Sunday that Saudi security services warned several days ago about an al Qaeda threat to “the European continent and in particular France”. Read More
MALI: French hostages held by al Qaeda ‘alive’
Seven hostages, including five French nationals, held by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb are “alive” in Mali, an unnamed source has said. Since the kidnapping in Niger 10 days ago, French officials have discounted the likelihood of a military rescue. Read More
FRANCE: Defence minister believes French hostages in Sahara are alive
French Defence Minister Hervé Morin said on Saturday that he believes five French nationals taken hostage in Niger over one week ago by al Qaeda militants are still alive. Read More
FRANCE: France rules out immediate military action to rescue Niger hostages
France’s military head, Admiral Edouard Guillaud (pictured), said Friday that the government is not currently considering military intervention to free seven hostages kidnapped in Niger last week by the North African al Qaeda. Read More
NIGER: Al Qaeda affiliate claims kidnapping of seven foreigners in Niger
Al Qaeda’s North African wing says it was responsible for kidnapping seven foreign workers, including five French nationals, from a uranium mine in Niger. Read More