NAIROBI: A French secret agent held hostage in Somalia for more than three years is alive, Islamist Shebab insurgents said Saturday after the French defence ministry said his captors had killed him.
"(Denis) Allex still remains safe and far from the location of the battle," the Shebab said in a news release. "As a response to this botched rescue operation by the French forces, (the Shebab) assures the French people that it will give its final verdict regarding the fate of Denis Allex within two days."