The foreign affairs ministry confirmed on Saturday a Dutch national is among three tourists kidnapped by armed men from a restaurant in Timbuktu, northern Mali.

The Dutch victim is male, but the ministry declined to give any further information. A fourth man, possibly German, was shot dead after refusing to go with the gunmen.
Sources in Mali told the NRC the Dutchman’s wife managed to avoid the kidnappers by hiding in a tent.
It is believed to be the first time foreigners have been abducted in Timbuktu, once popular with tourists, the BBC said.
Al-Qaeda links
However, a group linked to al-Qaeda has attacked Westerners in nearby regions, the broadcaster said.
The Dutch foreign ministry recommends western tourists avoid northern Mali.
Two French geologists were also kidnapped from a hotel in the village of Hombori, in eastern Mali on Thursday.