News on Top France
has urged its citizens to leave north Cameroon "as quickly as possible"
after seven of its nationals were kidnapped by gunmen on Tuesday.
French President Francois Hollande said he suspected militant
Islamists from neighbouring Nigeria of being behind the abductions.
He added that the seven tourists, including four children, had probably been taken to northern Nigeria.
The abductions come amid a French-led intervention against Islamists in Mali.
At least eight French nationals are already being held by Islamist groups in Africa.
The French foreign ministry said on its website citizens were
"officially advised not to go to the far north of Cameroon (the shores
of Lake Chad in the South Maroua), and the border with Nigeria, until
further notice".
Mr Hollande said gunmen from Nigeria's Boko Haram group may have been behind the kidnapping.
If everything is confirmed, this signifies that the fight against terrorist groups is a necessity
"I see the hand of Boko Haram in that part of Cameroon, and that is worrying enough for us to mobilise," Mr Hollande said.
'Revenge attacks'
Boko Haram has not yet commented on the allegation.
Mr Hollande said everything possible was being done to rescue the seven, all from the same family.
They had been returning from a visit to Waza National Park
when they were attacked by men on motorcycles, Cameroonian officials
said.
Boko Haram has staged many attacks across northern Nigeria in
recent years, targeting churches, government buildings and the security
forces.
"If everything is confirmed, this signifies that the fight
against terrorist groups is a necessity," said French Foreign Minister
Laurent Fabius, quoted by the Associated Press news agency.
"There is a battle to be led by the international community against terrorist groups and narco-terrorists."
News on Top The legendary actor, who had acted in many blockbusters, passed away Tuesday night; though report about the immediate cause of his death is still sketchy. He was aged 70.
