French citizen kidnapped in southwest Mali

PARIS: French President Francois Hollande says a French citizen has been kidnapped in southwest Mali, far from the zone controlled by Al-Qaeda-linked militants where African countries are preparing a possible military intervention.
Hollande said yesterday, "I confirm that there was a kidnapping of a French citizen in southwest Mali ... not in the part where there is the most danger."
Hollande, speaking at a news conference in Paris, gave no other details.
A Malian police official says a European traveling alone was kidnapped Tuesday night in the town of Diema. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak to the media.
France has been pushing for international action against militants who seized power in the north of the West African country.