France boosts efforts to find hostages in Africa

BAMAKO, Mali - France has dispatched 80 military personnel to Niger as it intensifies efforts to track down seven hostages, including five French nationals, abducted by suspected al-Qaida militants last week.

They have set up a base in the capital Niamey and are working in five teams with a mission to find the seven hostages, diplomatic and military sources said on Monday.

They have a long-range Breguet Atlantique aircraft and a Mirage jet with sophisticated monitoring equipment at their disposal.