A gunman suspected of murdering seven people in southern France has died, according to France's interior minister.<br/> <br />He said the 23-year-old Frenchman of Algerian origin died on Thursday after jumping out of a window of his apartment.<br/> <br />Mohamed Merah had been holed up for around 30 hours in a standoff with police.<br/> <br />The interior minister said the gunman had been silent for hours, but opened fire on special forces, and died during the ensuing gun battle.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH INTERIOR MINISTER, CLAUDE GUEANT, SAYING:<br/> <br />"At the moment, when a video probe was sent into the bathroom, the killer came out of the bathroom, firing with extreme violence."<br/> <br />He added that the Merah was firing several guns at once.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH INTERIOR MINISTER, CLAUDE GUEANT, SAYING:<br/> <br />"In the end, Mohamed Merah jumped from the window with his gun in his hand, continuing to fire. He was found dead on the ground."<br/> <br />Two police commandos were injured in the operation.<br/> <br />Travis Brecher, Reuters
