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France confirms two French journalists killed in Mali

09:38, November 03, 2013

Chinese ambassador to South Korea Zhang Xinsen (L) and Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon pose for a picture during the "China Day" event in Seoul, South Korea, Nov. 2, 2013. Beijing and Seoul jointly held a "China Day" event on Saturday in South Korea's capital city to mark the 20th anniversary of their sister city relationship. (Xinhua/Peng Qian)

PARIS, Nov. 2 -- Two French journalists were kidnapped and killed on Saturday in Kidal in northern Mali, the French Foreign Ministry confirmed.

The foreign ministry said the bodies of Claude Verlon and Ghislaine Dupont, both working for the radio station RFI, have been found.

The two journalists were taken by armed gunmen in Kidal earlier on Saturday. It was not immediately known who is responsible for the incident.

French President Francois Hollande expressed his "indignation at this odious act."

The French president has called an emergency meeting on Sunday with key ministers to find out how and why the journalists were killed.

In a statement released by the Elysee Palace, Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keika offered condolences to Hollande for the victims during a phone call.

The two presidents vowed to continue "the fight against terrorist groups" in northern Mali, pleging that "the abominable murder committed today in Kidal could only strengthen the determination of the two countries to continue and win the joint war against terrorism", the statement said.

（Editor：LiQian、Yao Chun）