A gang of armed men kidnapped two French nationals from their hotel in northeastern Mali overnight, local security sources said on Thursday.

A gang of armed men kidnapped two French nationals from their hotel in northeastern Mali overnight, local security sources said on Thursday.

The two geologists were seized by seven men from their hotel in the village of Hombori, the sources added, in the latest abduction of foreigners in the restive country where al-Qaida militants are active.

A source at the municipality in Hombori, which lies between Mopti and Gao near the border with Niger, said the kidnappers had entered the hotel at about 01:00 am local time (01:00 GMT) and made off with their hostages to the north.

Northern Mali is home to a number of al-Qaida in the Islamic Magreb bases used to launch attacks and kidnappings in Sahel region that includes Mali, Algeria, Niger and Mauritania.

The latest kidnap brings to six the number of French being held in the Sahel area.