Sarkozy blasts AQIM slaying of Frenchman

PARIS, July 26 (UPI) -- The execution of a French engineer by al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb was a "barbarous" act, the French president said in a statement Monday.

Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb in a statement released to al-Jazeera Monday took responsibility for the execution of French engineer Michel Germaneau.

Germaneau was kidnapped in April by AQIM in the northern Niger desert near the border of Mali and Algeria.

AQIM formed as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat, dedicated to overthrowing the Algerian government. It joined forces with al-Qaida in 2004 and has spread its reach across North and West Africa.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy condemned the death of the 78-year-old Frenchman.

"I condemn this barbarous act, this odious act, which has just left an innocent victim," he said.

A man identifying himself as AQIM leader Abu Musab Adbul-Wadud said Germaneau was killed in response to French operations against the group.

"Sarkozy was unable to free his compatriot through this failed operation but he definitely opened one of the gates of hell on himself, his people and his nation," al-Jazeera quoted him as saying.

French and Mauritian troop launched a raid last week on a suspected al-Qaida camp in Mali in an effort to free the French hostage.

AQIM in a July 11 message gave Germaneau 15 days to live.