French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Wednesday said the abduction of seven French nationals in northern Cameroon was not linked to the country's ongoing military operation in Mali.

Speaking to the state-run TV channel France2, the minister said "no link was established with intervention in Mali."

But he admitted that "these are groups who claim the same fundamentalism, which have the same methods wether in Mali, Somalia and Nigeria," Le Drian added.

France which has became a top target of Islamist extremists following its military commitment in Afghanistan and Mali.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for kidnapping the seven French nationals, including four children, in northern Cameroon near Nigerian border on Tuesday.

But French Foreign Affairs Minister Laurent Fabius on Tuesday said the Boko Haram cell was presumed to be responsible for the incident. Endi

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