Meanwhile the European Union pledged 615 million euros ($830 million) to Bamako as part of a five billion euro package of fresh aid for Sahel countries, describing Mali as the “most fragile country” in the region.
A French military patrol found Dupont and Verlon’s bodies about 12 kilometres (seven miles) east of Kidal, just hours after they were snatched on Saturday, lying by a pick up truck in which they had been abducted.
They had travelled to Kidal to interview a spokesman for Tuareg separatist group the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), and were kidnapped outside his home, according to their employer.
The MNLA described the murders as “heinous” and complained it had been denied the opportunity to help find the killers, despite being the main rebel group in the area.
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