AlHijjah 28, 1432, Nov 24, 2011, SPA -- French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe confirmed Thursday that two French nationals had been kidnapped in northern Mali, dpa reported. Juppe told iTele news channel that the men had been abducted "in conditions that we don't yet fully know" and said the ministry was still gathering information. Radio France Internationale reported that several armed men snatched the two geologists from their hotel in Hombori, midway between Mopti and Gao, in the early hours of Thursday. The report quoted the hotel manager as confirming the raid. A witness saw the men, who were working for a cement factory near Hombori, being forced into a vehicle by men wearing turbans and being driven off into desert, RFI added, Malian security forces were hunting for the hostages, RFI said.
