Seven French tourists have been kidnapped in Cameroon by what French President Francois Hollande says is a Nigeria-based "terrorist group."
Mr. Hollande, speaking in Greece, did not name the group. But he said the seven hostages belong to the same family, and have probably been taken to neighboring Nigeria.
The hostages are said to include a number of children.
Earlier Tuesday, Radio France International said the seven were seized by gunmen on motorbikes in a resort town near the Nigerian border.
The incident occurred a day after the Islamist group Ansaru claimed responsibility for kidnapping seven foreigners in northern Nigeria.
Those captives, employed by a Lebanese-owned company, were taken hostage when gunmen stormed a construction site in Nigeria's Bauchi state.
Ansaru also claimed responsibility for kidnapping a French national in December.
The group said both incidents were motivated by what it called the European Union's transgressions against Islam in countries such as Mali and Afghanistan.
France sent forces into Mali last month to help drive out Islamist militant groups that controlled the country's north and were moving in the direction of the capital, Bamako.
Western countries have expressed increasing concern about Nigerian militant groups linking up with similar groups -- especially al-Qaida's North African branch, al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb.
Nigeria's best-known militant group is the Islamist sect Boko Haram, which is blamed for more than 1,000 killings since 2009.
Mr. Hollande, speaking in Greece, did not name the group. But he said the seven hostages belong to the same family, and have probably been taken to neighboring Nigeria.
The hostages are said to include a number of children.
Earlier Tuesday, Radio France International said the seven were seized by gunmen on motorbikes in a resort town near the Nigerian border.
The incident occurred a day after the Islamist group Ansaru claimed responsibility for kidnapping seven foreigners in northern Nigeria.
Those captives, employed by a Lebanese-owned company, were taken hostage when gunmen stormed a construction site in Nigeria's Bauchi state.
Ansaru also claimed responsibility for kidnapping a French national in December.
The group said both incidents were motivated by what it called the European Union's transgressions against Islam in countries such as Mali and Afghanistan.
France sent forces into Mali last month to help drive out Islamist militant groups that controlled the country's north and were moving in the direction of the capital, Bamako.
Western countries have expressed increasing concern about Nigerian militant groups linking up with similar groups -- especially al-Qaida's North African branch, al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb.
Nigeria's best-known militant group is the Islamist sect Boko Haram, which is blamed for more than 1,000 killings since 2009.