France is "playing with fire" in Mali, the brother of al-Qaeda's chief said in an interview published today, warning that Islamic fighters would retaliate in the African nation and "on French territory".
France launched a military offensive in Mali in January to help the army push back Islamic extremists who had taken hold of the north, and has now begun a phased withdrawal of its 4,500-strong force.
"France is playing with fire... By attacking Mali, France lit the fuse and will suffer the consequences," Mohammed al-Zawahiri, the brother of Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri, told French weekly Le Point.
"The reaction of jihadi fighters is likely to be strong, be it in Mali or on French territory.
"France kills our children, we must respond. We have neither bombs nor planes, but our resources allow us to take hostages to defend ourselves," said the Egyptian Islamist.
