Reports say bodies of two French nationals seized in Niamey have been Two French hostages abducted in Niger have been found dead following a failed rescue operation.

The two men were found dead following clashes between security forces and the kidnappers, Alain Juppe, the French defense minister, said on Saturday. “With the operation launched and co-ordinate with French elements in the region, the terrorists were intercepted at the Mali border and several of them were overpowered,” Juppe said.
“After the fighting, the two hostages were found dead.”
The Reuters news agency reported an unnamed source as saying the the bodies had been flown back to Niamey, Niger's capital.
The two French nationals were seized on Friday while eating dinner in a restaurant in Niamey.
Four armed men burst into the restaurant and ordered the two men out into a 4x4 vehicle with Benin plates in which other armed men were waiting, according to witnesses.
(Source: Ajazeera.net)