France today rejected demands from an Al-Qaeda cell holding five French hostages in northern Africa that it negotiate their freedom with Osama bin Laden and pull its troops out of Afghanistan. Foreign Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said in a statement that France cannot accept that its policy be dictated by anyone outside. The minister said France is doing all in its power for the hostages, wherever they are, to be freed safe and sound.The recording of the Al-Qaeda message broadcast yesterday by Arab satellite network Al-Jazeera, said France would have to negotiate personally with bin Laden to secure the release of five French hostages seized in Niger in September. It said that to ensure the hostages' safety, France must hasten and take their soldiers out of Afghanistan according to a specific timetable.