Armed group in Algeria beheads French hostage

Jihadists linked to the Islamic State (IS) group beheaded a French hostage kidnapped in Algeria after giving Paris a 24-hour deadline, AFP reported, according to a video posted online on September 24.

Herve Gourdel, a 55-year-old tourist from Nice, southern France, was kidnapped by Jund al-Khilifa on September 21. The group had demanded an end to France's airstrikes against IS in Iraq.

Herve Gourdel sits among gunmen in Algeria

French President Francois Hollande also confirmed on September 24 that French citizen Herve Gourdel had died.

“Our compatriot has been murdered,” Mr. Hollande told reporters before addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The French leader condemned the “brutal and cowardly” act and said he would convene a special security meeting at the Elysee Palace on September 25 to discuss the latest developments.

On the same day, the European Union (EU) condemned the “brutal murder” of the French citizen and said that all efforts must be made to hold the perpetrators accountable. The EU said that this incident “further demonstrates the determination of groups affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) to pursue and expand their terrorist strategy,” referring to IS.

In a related development, the Georgian Defense Ministry said on September 24 that the country is considering ways to participate in the fight against IS in Iraq and Syria. The ministry's statement emphasized: "As a strategic partner of the United States and one of the most active collaborators with NATO, Georgia is considering contributing to the goals of the anti-IS coalition"./.

According to VNA