PARIS, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- The two French nationals kidnapped in Niger on Friday were already killed, local media quoted the French defense ministry as saying on Saturday.

Earlier in the day, French President Nicolas Sarkozy confirmed the abduction of two French nationals in Niger on Friday night by four armed men while they dined in a restaurant in Niamey.

"An operation (to chase the kidnappers) is underway and everyone will understand that for security reasons, I can not give more information ... I'm following the unfolding of this tragic case minute by minute," Sarkozy said earlier during a trip to Schoelcher in the overseas department of Martinique.