Algerian FM moves to verify killing of diplomat in Mali

Algeria’s foreign ministry on Sunday said it is making efforts to verify the reports that an Algerian vice-consul, kidnapped five months ago in tumultuous northern Mali, has been executed by local extremist rebels.The statement came one day after a couple of news websites reported the killing of Tahar Touati, Algeria’s vice-consul in Gao of northern Mali, which shocked the North African nation.The foreign ministry said it received the family members of the kidnapped Algerian consular officials and assured them that communication with the abductors is ongoing.It added that a crisis unit is closely following the situation and the ministry will inform the family members and the public of every new development.On Saturday evening, a couple of news websites posted a statement presumably issued by the Movement of Unity and Jihad in Western Africa (MUJAO), which announced the execution of Tahar Touati, following the expiration of an ultimatum for the Algerian government to release some militants it held.