A punishment for holding several French hostages in Beirut perhaps?

A sixth French hostage is thought to have been killed last year.

A terrorist group said today that it would "hand down the just sentence to execute" a French hostage "within 48 hours."

French hostages were released by kidnappers at the same time.

Both French hostages were released on the December 21, 2004.

He said the Americans joined him in captivity two months after three French hostages were released.

He and two other French hostages were released in May 1988.

He also indicated that some British and French hostages would soon be allowed to leave his country.

As a result ten French hostages had just been shot.

First results were promising, with five French hostages released last year.