A video uploaded to Youtube apparently shows the French family kidnapped by Islamic insurgents in the African nation of Cameroon.  The government of France says its experts are examining the video to make sure it is authentic.

The video shows three adults and four children flanked by masked and camouflaged gunmen, one of whom speaks in Arabic and demands the release of militants being held in Nigeria and Cameroon.  One of the hostages speaks in French and says the radical Islamic group Boko Haram, which has previously denied responsibility for the crime, kidnapped them.  A kidnapper claims that France's President has declared war on Islam.

If authentic, the video is the first images of the family since they were kidnapped by armed men on motorbikes in the northern area of Cameroon near Niger a week ago.

The boys are aged five, eight, 11, and 12.  They’re being held with their parents and an uncle.

Boko Haram is believed to be linked to al Qaida and among other things believes that western education is “sinful” and should be banned.