Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius says four French hostages thought to be in northern Mali are in good health and is suggesting the government has established a channel to them.

Fabius met Thursday with families of the four kidnapped in September 2010 in the Niger uranium mining town of Arlit, where they worked. The four are believed held by al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb.

France is supporting plans for African troops to intervene in northern Mali, which is under Islamist control. The families worry the hostages will get caught in the middle.

Fabius' statement said the captives have received medicine and even mail from relatives in France.

Three other French are hostages in northern Mali. A French security agent captured in Somalia has been held there more than 3 years.