French soldier killed,hostage feared dead in Somalia
Paris, 13 Jan - (ANA) - A French soldier has been killed in Somalia during a failed operation to free a hostage who  is also believed to have died, the defence minister said. Jean-Yves Le Drian told reporters in Paris that a second soldier was missing after the operation. A battle erupted with al-Shabab militants after commandos swooped on the town of Bulo Marer overnight. he raid came hours after French troops intervened in the west African state of Mali. France was "engaged in a merciless fight against terrorism wherever it is found", Mr Le Drian said. It seems likely that the operation was linked to the intervention in Mali, Correspondents say. The French government knew well the intervention would have dangerous implications for the nine French hostages being held across northern Africa, our correspondent says.(ANA)
FA/ANA/13 January 2013---------