Hostages in the Sahel: Paris has deployed "reconnaissance means"
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ennahar
France has deployed in Niger " information and recognition means " in an attempt to locate the kidnappers of seven hostages, including five French, abducted on September 16 in Niger and transferred to Mali, on Monday said a source close the case in Paris.
- These reconnaissance planes of two types, Atlantic 2 (ATL2) and Mirage F1-CR, according to the same source, confirm the figure given by diplomatic and security sources in the Sahel of about 80 people deployed.
- But it is not equipped to launch a military operation, France, participating in this stage to the phase of "seeking information", it was stressed: "The aim is to detect radio emissions, and electro- Magnetic signs to attempt locate the kidnappers.
- At the Deprtment of Defense, they declined to comment, although it was acknowledged that there were planes, but without specifying their type.
- France has installed in Niamey an "operational base" of 80 soldiers in an attempt to find the seven hostages, AFP learned on the morning of Monday from diplomatic and security sources in the Sahel.
- "21 hours of reconnaissance flights" have already been made "to locate the hostages," said one of these sources.
- France "will do everything to find the hostages," said on Sunday the spokesman of the French government, Luc Chatel, asked about the possibility that France committed a "military action" to try to free them.
- Five French, a Togolese and a Malagasy were kidnapped Thursday in Arlit in northern Niger, by a group of armed men, and are now in the desert of Mali, according to Nigerian and Algerian security sources.
- Ennaharonline/ M. O.
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