to Islamic State, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has
confirmed.
Herve Gourdel was seized on Sunday in the unsettled north-east Kabylie area.
Fabius said an online video that showed Gourdel flanked by armed men,
calling on France not to strike IS militants in Iraq, appeared
authentic.
He said France would do everything it could to liberate Gourdel, but
that the situation was "extremely critical."
Earlier, Islamic State militants warned they would target France - and
other countries - after French jets launched air strikes in Iraq
against the group.
IS jihadists have seized large swathes of territory in eastern Syria
and across northern and western Iraq, forcing tens of thousands of
people to flee their homes this year.
France's foreign ministry said in a statement: "We confirm the
authenticity of the video showing images of French hostage Herve
Gourdel, kidnapped in Algeria in the region of Tizi Ozou on Sunday."
"The threats made by this terrorist group shows once again the extreme
cruelty of [Islamic State] and those who say they are affiliated to
it."
Speaking in New York, where he is attending the UN General Assembly,
Fabius told reporters: "We will do everything we can to liberate
hostages... but a terrorist group cannot change France's position."
The video shows Gourdel flanked by two masked men.
The militants say they are members of the Algerian group Jund
al-Khilifa, also known as Soldiers of the Caliphate.
The group has pledged allegiance to IS. Some reports have also
described it as an al-Qaeda splinter group.
The militants said that they were responding to a call from IS to
attack citizens of countries taking part in strikes in Iraq.
The apparent kidnappers threatened to kill Mr Gourdel unless France
ended its military operation.
In the video, Gourdel identified himself as a 55-year-old from Nice,
southern France.
Speaking apparently under duress, he said: "This armed group is asking
me to ask you [French President Francois Hollande] to not intervene in
Iraq."
French newspaper Le Monde described Gourdel as a mountain guide and
photographer in Algeria as a tourist.
The Algerian interior ministry said he and two Algerian companions had
been driving through mountains near the village of Ait Ouabane, when
they were stopped by armed men.
The gunmen let the Algerians go but seized the Frenchman.
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