French Hostage Herve Gourdel Beheaded In Algeria

(Photo: Posters in support of Herve Gourdel were put up in the village
of Saint-Martin-Vesubie, south-eastern France, on Tuesday)

France has confirmed that an Algerian jihadist group linked to Islamic
State (IS) militants has beheaded tourist Herve Gourdel, seized on
Sunday.

Jund al-Khilafa killed Mr Gourdel, 55, after its deadline for France
to halt air strikes on IS in Iraq ran out.

French President Francois Hollande condemned the killing as a "cruel
and cowardly" act.

He said that French air strikes which began on IS targets in Iraq last
week would continue.

Speaking at the UN general assembly, Mr Hollande said that Mr
Gourdel's abduction and decapitation was a barbaric act of terrorism
which presented a problem not only for the region but also for the
world.

He said the fight against terrorism should know no borders and that
France was now in mourning.

"It is not weakness that should be the response to terrorism but
force," he said.

Jund al-Khilafa posted a video of Mr Gourdel being killed which was
entitled "Message of blood for the French government."