11 suspected militants held
France is on high alert after seven hostages, including five French citizens, were kidnapped by the North African wing of al-Qaida last month, and approval by the Senate of a bill to ban full-face veils. The hostages are still being held.
Meanwhile, a US drone strike has killed eight militants, including five Germans, in Pakistan’s anarchic tribal belt where Western intelligence has traced an alleged plot to attack high-profile targets in Europe.
