French aircraft join hunt for hostages abducted in Sahara desert
France will do everything to free hostages, says government
after seven are kidnapped by suspected al-Qaida militants French
Mirage F1 fighter A Mirage F1 fighter has been deployed to look
for the seven hostages. Photograph: Jack Guez/AFP/Getty Images
French anti-terror troops are co-ordinating an aerial search for
seven hostages who were abducted in the Sahara desert in Niger
by suspected al-Qaida militants last week.  Around 80 French
anti-terror specialists set up base in a hotel in the capital,
Niamey, at the weekend following an invitation from Niger's
government to pursue the kidnappers on its soil.  Long-range
reconnaissance planes equipped with infrared sensors are
searching the desert in the north of the country, where the
hostages were seized from their homes on Thursday, as well as
the rugged fringes of neighbouring Mali, where it is thought
they may be being held.  "Their mission is to help Niger's
military find the seven kidnapped