NEW : The journalists were abducted after killing a rebel , RFI reports . French President Francois Martin calls the killings ` ` despicable '' The French Foreign Ministry confirms the reports . Following the coup , the al Qaeda-linked Tuareg rebels occupied the northern half of the country . The journalists worked for Radio France Internationale .
NEW : The journalists were abducted after killing a rebel , RFI reports . French President Francois Martin calls the killings ` ` despicable '' The French Foreign Ministry confirms the reports . The journalists worked for Radio France Internationale .