Two French journalists found dead after Mali kidnapping

BAMAKO: Two journalists with Radio France Internationale (RFI) were found dead on Saturday after being kidnapped by armed men in Mali's troubled northeast, government and security sources said.

Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon were on their way to interview a spokesman for the Tuareg separatist group the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) in the rebel stronghold of Kidal when they were abducted outside his home.

French President Francois Hollande called a meeting of his ministers for Sunday to establish "jointly with Malian authorities and UN forces, the conditions of the killings".

He expressed "his indignation over this despicable act", said a statement from his office.

Hollande and Malian leader Ibrahim Boubacar Keita spoke over the telephone, the French president's office said, reaffirming their determination "to relentlessly pursue the fight against terrorist groups that are present in northern Mali".

RFI said MNLA spokesman Ambery Ag Rhissa was waiting to be interviewed by Verlon and Dupont at 1:00pm (1300 GMT) when he heard suspicious noises outside his home.

"He half opened his door and saw the kidnappers put the journalists into a beige 4X4," RFI said.

Men in turbans and speaking the Tuareg language of Tamashek "ordered Mr Ag Rhissa to get back inside and forced the journalists' driver to lie down", RFI said, adding that Ag Rhisaa had heard Verlon and Dupont protest.

"This is the last time that the journalists were seen," RFI said.