Al-Qaida murder elderly hostage

A 78-year-old French aid worker held hostage by al-Qaida has been killed in the Sahara.

French president Nicholas Sarkozy today condemned the “odious act” and vowed to keep up the fight against terrorism.

He confirmed that France took part in a military operation in the Sahara recently.

The leader of al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb said the man was killed in retaliation for the killing of six al-Qaida members in the raid.