French special forces killed a leader of Al-Qaeda's north African branch who was suspected of playing a role in the kidnapping of hostage Serge Lazarevic, freed in December, the army said.

During an operation in the northeastern town of Kidal in Mali, "two terrorists were captured and a third, Ali Ag Wadossene, was killed. He is one of the operational leaders of AQIM (Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb) in the zone," said an army statement.