[Ennahar] French Helicopters fired on January 8 on the convoy of vehicles of the kidnappers of two French in northern Mali where the charred wreckage were found, said to AFP Malian sources.According to a Malian security source, French commandos on board of "military helicopters," opened fire on the vehicles, before descending to the ground.
This "final assault took place at about fifteen kilometers from the Malian town Tabankor (35 km south of Menaka)," the source said.
"Among the recovered vehicles burned, there was a large 4x4 vehicle registered in Benin," said an administrative authority in the north of Mali, joined by AFP in Bamako.
In Niamey, witnesses attributed the kidnapping to the North African branch of al-Qaeda had said that two Frenchies were taken January 7 at night by people "armed and turbaned", "on a 4x4 car registered in Benin ".
According to French officials, the lifeless bodies of two Frenchies were discovered after the assault. French Prime Minister Francois Fillon had said they were "coldly eliminated" by their captors.
A source close to the Nigerian presidency has told AFP that "the bodies were charred. According to medical sources in Niamey, which could see the bodies, the two men "had been tied, hands behind the back, and they had black marks on the body."
An autopsy must be performed at the Institute of Forensic Medicine of Gay Paree.
Among the charred vehicles found on the scene of the attack, "there was also a vehicle of the Nigerian police as the Nigerians came to search" Sunday, "said Malian administrative source.
A Malian farmer, returning from the "desert" place where the assault took place, also reported seeing "several charred cars one of which belonged to the Nigerian police." "I saw on the ground the remains of people burned, humans pieces," he added.
In Niamey Monday, the French Minister of Defense Alain Juppé had denied any French "blunder". After the assault, "forces of Evil and persons wearing Niger police uniform had been found dead with the hostages." An investigation should establish what is the reason for their presence in the vehicles we have jugged," said Mr. Juppé.
According to security sources in Mali, a 4x4 car with a double tank allowing it to ride a thousand miles was leading the convoy of the kidnappers, followed by a pick-up. "We then found on board the pick-up ten boxes of ammunition and arms burned," the source said.