It is an anxious wait for news for relatives and friends of the French national kidnapped by militants in Algeria.<br /><br />The captors of Hervé Gourdel are threatening to kill him unless France stops its military campaign against Islamic State fighters in Iraq. <br /><br />People in the village near Nice where he worked have spoken of their shock.<br /><br />One man said: “I’ve known him since he was a little boy. He’s a wonderful guy. I have tears in my eyes.” <br /><br />Henri Giuge, the Mayor of Saint-Martin-Vésubie, said: “We don’t understand, we just don’t understand. But what worries me is that this ultimatum is very short.”<br /><br />French authorities say they are working closely with officials in Algeria to try to work out a rescue plan. <br /><br />Meanwhile, a facebook page has been set up in support of Hervé Gourdel. <br /><br />In a message before he left on holiday, he told a friend he planned to return at the start of October.
