Sunday, January 9, 2011

French hostage killed in Niger was to marry in a week: Mayor


The mayor of the hometown of two Frenchmen taken hostage this weekend in Niger then killed during rescue attempt says one was about to marry a local woman and the other was his best man.

Jacques Remory, mayor of Linselles near the Belgian border, said Sunday that Antoine de Leocour was to marry next Saturday and his longtime friend, Vincent Delory, was to be his best man. Both were 25.

French Prime Minister Francois Fillon has ordered his defence minister to go to the west African country for talks. The captives bodies were discovered after a rescue attempt that included French troops.

The hostages were kidnapped Friday night at a restaurant in Niger's capital. They were found dead Saturday at the Niger-Mali border. The Defence Ministry says they were likely executed by their captors.

People walk by "Le Toulousain" restaurant in Niamey on January 8, 2011 a day after gunmen abducted two Frenchmen from the restaurant. Niger security forces on January 8, 2011 located and exchanged fire with the kidnappers of two Frenchmen snatched at gunpoint from a restaurant in the capital, but held off for fear of wounding the hostages. - People walk by "Le Toulousain" restaurant in Niamey on January 8, 2011 a day after gunmen abducted two Frenchmen from the restaurant. Niger security forces on January 8, 2011 located and exchanged fire with the kidnappers of two Frenchmen snatched at gunpoint from a restaurant in the capital, but held off for fear of wounding the hostages. | Boureima HAMA/AFP/Getty Images

Source: The Globe and Mail

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