Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (Aqim) militants have executed an Algerian customs officer held hostage since June in the Sahara, following an attack that claimed the lives of 11 Algerian police officers at the border between Mali and Algeria.

Algiers refuses to negotiate with groups it describes as terrorists and will not pay ransom.

Algerian authorities have not reacted to the announcement of the assassination.

Nor has there been an official reaction to the 23 August release of two Spanish hostages held by Aqim, although everything indicates that a ransom payment was made.