France confirms death of al Qaeda's Abou Zeid in Mali

The death of Abou Zeid, who raised millions of dollars kidnapping Western hostages, marks a heavy blow to al Qaeda's North African wing AQIM and to Islamist rebels battling French-led forces in northern Mali's Adrar des Ifoghas mountains.

 

The death of the ruthless commander - the trusted lieutenant of AQIM's elusive leader Abdelmalek Droukdel - was a major victory in France's nine-week-old campaign to drive al Qaeda-linked Islamists from Mali's desert north.
It raises questions, however, about the fate of several French hostages believed to be held by Abou Zeid's branch of AQIM.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/23/us-france-mali-qaeda-idUSBRE92M05E20130323