Paris suggests Al-Qaeda hostage alive

PARIS;

French President Francois Hollande said Paris
had reason to believe that Serge Lazarevic,
kidnapped in  Mali by Al-Qeada in 2011
was still alive.

We have evidence that suggests he is alive
We have proof that he is likely still being held"
Hollande said in a rare live television appearance
,though he acknowledged this information was
not recent.

Lazarevic  is the last French hostage still being
held worldwide ,after hiker Herve Gourdel
was beheaded in September by Islamic state -linked
militants.

He appeared in a video aired in June in June
by Dubai- based Alan television urging Hollande
to act to secure to his relase.

Wearing a black turban sporting  a loving
beard and flank by armed men Lazarevic
said the video was recorded on May 13.

He was kidnapped by Al-Qeada in the Islamic
Maghreb on November 24.2011 along with
Philippe Verdon who was found shot dead
last year.

He was accompanying Verdon on a business
trip when they were seized b
y armed men at  a small hotel in Hombori
in Mali's north,according to his relatives.

On Thursday Hollande also said that
a probe into the murder of  Goundel was
"moving forward".

"The Algerian  government is doing its job
and gives us information all the time"he said.

The murderers are now known"Algerian
authorities are hunting down 15 people
suspected of having taken part in the 55-
year old's kidnap and execution.