1 tourist dead, 3 abducted in Mali

A foreign tourist was killed in Mali and three others abducted in the second kidnapping of Europeans in two days, officials said Friday. The dead man was believed to be German, CNN reported. German, and Swedish and Dutch officials confirmed two of their citizens were among the victims, while the British government said it was trying to confirm a report that the third was a South African citizen living in Britain. The attack occurred Friday in Timbuktu province. Two French nationals were abducted Thursday in central Mali. "I was appalled to learn of the death of one person yesterday," Catherine Ashton, the foreign policy chief for the European Union, said Saturday. "I offer my deep condolences to the family and friends of the victim and my solidarity with all the hostages currently being held in the Sahel. I call on the Malian authorities to do their utmost to ensure that the hostages are quickly and safely released." The British Foreign Office advises tourists not to visit Mali because of the risk of attacks by al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb.