DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Local intelligence officials have claimed that dozens of French Muslims have been training with the Taliban in Pakistan.

The officials said on Saturday they were investigating whether Mohamed Merah, a Frenchman of Algerian descent suspected of killing seven people in France, had been part of this group.

The intelligence officials said 85 Frenchmen had been training with the Pakistani Taliban in North Waziristan for the past three years.

Most of them have dual nationality with France and North African countries.—AP