As per the declaration made by the Elysee Palace, the French hostage, Michel Germaneau, who was kidnapped in April, has been killed by a North African wing of Al-Qaida. The announcement was made by French President, Nicolas Sarkozy on Monday. The captive was a 78 year old retired engineer.

Prime Minister, Francois Fillon, Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner, Interior Minister, Brice Hortefeux and many other concerned high profile officials attended a defense and security meeting on the issue. After the meeting was over, Sarkozy made the declaration.

The president called French compatriots to avoid traveling in Sahel region of West Africa. He condemned the revenge killing and shared that the killing was a “barbarous" and "odious" act. It has been claimed by the Al-Qaida African branch, AQMI, that the French hostage has been killed by it.

AQMI butchered him for taking revenge for the murder of six of its members by Mauritanian troops in its recent raid. The troops were supported by French military forces, though this has not been confirmed by the Elysee Palace.

Mauritanian military had targeted Al-Qaida militants in the Sahara desert, which was a four-day operation. On Thursday, around six fighters of AQMI were killed in this raid on a Mali base, as per Mauritanian security source.