A photograph of the Dutchman and two other foreign nationals kidnapped in Mali last month has been circulated by a news agency in Mauritania.

The photo shows the three kidnap victims surrounded by armed men. It is not clear when the photograph was taken.
This week, a group allied to al-Qaida, known as AQIM, claimed responsibility for abducting five foreigners. Two French men were taken the day before the Dutchman, a Swede and a South African were kidnapped from a hotel in Timbuktu.
According to Nos television, negotiations are currently underway to try to free the men.