France in contact with Mali hostage-takers

France is in contact with kidnappers who are holding seven hostages - five of them French - kidnapped in Niger in September, according to new Defence Minister Alain Juppé. He said that the hostages, who are believed to be held by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (Aqim) in Mali, are alive.

Reuters/Charles Platiau

"Of course there are all kinds of contact," Juppé told Europe 1 radio, adding that the case was being handled with "extreme vigilance".

"We have every reason to believe" that the hostages are alive and well, he said.

During his televised address on Tuesday night, French President Sarkozy said he was "especially worried" about those who had been kidnapped, but assured the public that threats would not change French policy.

The hostages - including a Togolese and a Madagascan - were seized in a Niger uranium-mining town on the night of 15-16 September. Intelligence agents believe they are being held in the Sahara desert region of neighbouring Mali.

On 30 September, Aqim posted a photograph and audio recordings of the hostages, most of whom were working for the French nuclear group Areva and its subcontractors.

Al-Qaeda head Osama bin Laden has told France to consider the kidnapping a warning for its policy in Africa and ban on the wearing of the burka and niqab.

The French government has not heard from the kidnappers, despite expressing willingness to talk.