French hostage freed after abduction by North Africa’s al-Qaida offshoot
By APTuesday, February 23, 2010
French hostage freed in Mali
PARIS — The office of France’s president says a French hostage who was held captive in Mali for three months by Al-Qaida’s North Africa offshoot has been freed.
President Nicolas Sarkozy’s office says in a statement that he called his counterpart in Mali to thank him for his handling of the crisis.
Pierre Camatte was abducted by Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb in November. He was freed Tuesday.
In exchange for Camatte, Al-Qaida’s North Africa offshoot had demanded the release of four of its members jailed in Mali. A Mali court last week ordered their release.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
PARIS (AP) — The office of France’s president says a French hostage who was held captive in Mali for three months by Al-Qaida’s North Africa offshoot has been freed.
President Nicolas Sarkozy’s office says in a statement that he called his counterpart in Mali to thank him for his handling of the crisis.
Camatte was abducted by Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb in November. He was freed Tuesday.
In exchange for Camatte, Al-Qaida’s North Africa offshoot had demanded the release of four of its members jailed in Mali. A Mali court last week ordered their release.
