Niger kidnap victims laid to rest in France

The funerals of two Frenchmen kidnapped in Niger earlier this month and found dead in Mali the following day took place on Monday. Antoine De Léocour and Vincent Delory were seized on 7 January and were killed after the French military made an attempt to rescue them.

Reuters

The funerals of the men, who were both 25, took place in their home town of Linselles in northern France.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy was among the hundreds of mourners who attended the service.

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (Aqim) has claimed responsibility for the deaths of De Léocour and Delory.