PARIS: The mother of a French policeman killed after taking the place of a hostage during a militant gunman`s attacks last week called for tolerance on Monday as the country prepared a national tribute for the of ficer.

Nicolle Beltrame said she was not surprised by her 44-year-old son Arnaud`s selfless act at a supermarket in southwest France on Friday, saying he was a fierce patriot and proud serviceman.

`Arnaud would not have wanted us to give up,` she told RTL radio. `I`m here to honour him and I`m speaking to honour him, so that his act has some purpose, that we`re a bit more human, a bit more tolerant.

Arnaud Beltrame was killed on Friday during a shooting spree and hostagetaking by a Moroccan-born French national, that left four people dead and three injured. `I know Arnaud: loyal, altruistic, and since he was small, working for other people, committed to the country,` she said.-AFP