Body of one of six French citizens captured by Mali’s al Qaeda arm to be sent to France; Dutch couple held hostage in Yemen pleads for help in Internet video
Paris: French President Francois Hollande’s office formally confirmed on Monday the death of a French hostage in Mali, ending the uncertainty about the status of one of six French citizens captured by al Qaeda’s North African arm.
A statement from the president’s office said an autopsy would be performed to learn the cause of death of Philippe Verdon once the body is transferred to France. Tests were conducted on the body to verify the identity.
The media arm of al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, or AQIM, had said on Twitter in April that Verdon was dead after an unofficial announcement in March. Verdon, in his early 50s, had been captured in Hombori, in northeastern Mali, in November 2011 along with another French citizen. Both were reportedly on a business trip.
The al-Qaeda-linked group, which said they were abducted from their hotel room, alleged they were French spies. AQIM is still believed to be holding five French hostages. AQIM was one of three Islamic extremist groups who controlled northern Mali until a January French-led military intervention cut their stranglehold, killing extremists and scattering others to neighbouring countries.
Verdon was known to be in ill health and there has been speculation that his death was related to pre-existing conditions. However, AQIM took credit for his death, saying in April that the fate of the remaining captives “is in the hands of French President Francois Hollande and the door is still open to find a just solution.”
The presidential statement reiterated that “those responsible for the death of our countryman must be identified and judged.”
The presidential statement said the government was still actively seeking freedom for the remaining French captives. Another French citizen is being held captive in Nigeria by another group.
“No path will be ignored or left unchecked,” the statement said.
Pascal Lupart, who heads the Support Committee for Philippe Verdon, suggested on BFM-TV that there was, at last, some relief. “Now we will have a real funeral with a real body,” he said.
