French Sahara Hostage Appeals in Video for Negotiated Release

French Sahara Hostage Appeals in Video for Negotiated Release

DUBAI (Reuters) – A video of French hostage Serge Lazarevic, appealing to France’s President Francois Hollande to negotiate his release after two years in captivity in the Sahara, was aired by Dubai-based Akhbar Al Aan TV on Tuesday.

In the video, Lazarevic wore a black turban and had a long grey beard. He said he had been kidnapped by al Qaeda’s North African wing, AQIM, and appeared in front of two gunmen, whose faces were concealed by turbans.

“I take this opportunity today May 13, 2014, to call on Francois Hollande, the president ofFrance, to do everything to negotiate my release,” he said, speaking in French.

Akhbar Al Aan TV, which is based in the United Arab Emirates, said the hostage was ill. Lazarevic said he was in a critical condition that was becoming more and more untenable.

Read the full story at Reuters.

COMMENTS

Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.