French President condemns the beheading of an Algerian tourist

French President Francois Hollande has strongly condemned the beheading in Algeria of tourist, Herve Gourdel by a jihadist group linked to Islamic State militants.

The President described the killing as a "cruel and cowardly" act.

He said that French air strikes which began on Islamic State targets in Iraq last week will continue.

Jund al-Khilafa killed Mr Gourdel, 55, after its deadline for France to halt air strikes on Islamic State militants in Iraq ran out.

Algeria says it would do everything possible to bring the killers to justice.

Speaking at the UN General Assembly, French President Francois Hollande said France is going through an ordeal because the murder of one of its citizens, but will not relent in her efforts to seek justice.

Speaking on the sidelines of the assembly, the President said Mr Gourdel was killed because he was the representative of the French people who defend human dignity against barbarism.

Source: BBC