French President Sarkozy visits French ex-hostage in Mali, thanks country’s president
By APThursday, February 25, 2010
French president visits freed hostage in Mali
BAMAKO, Mali — French President Nicolas Sarkozy has met with a French aid worker in Mali who was released by al-Qaida’s North Africa offshoot this week after nearly three months in captivity.
Sarkozy met with Pierre Camatte for a few hours late Wednesday and told journalists at the presidential palace that he made the trip while on a short Africa tour to thank Mali’s president for his work helping to free Camatte.
Sarkozy said France will stand by Mali’s side as it fights the militant group al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb which abducted Camatte on Nov. 25.
Camatte, who ran a small organization fighting malaria in Mali, was freed Tuesday after a local court ordered four suspected members of the militant group released from jail.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — French President Nicolas Sarkozy has met with a French aid worker in Mali who was released by al-Qaida’s North Africa offshoot this week after nearly three months in captivity.
Sarkozy met with Pierre Camatte for a few hours late Thursday and told journalists at the presidential palace that he made the trip while on a short Africa tour to thank Mali’s president for his work helping to free Camatte.
Sarkozy said France will stand by Mali’s side as it fights the militant group al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb which abducted Camatte on Nov. 25.
Camatte, who ran a small organization fighting malaria in Mali, was freed Tuesday after a local court ordered four suspected members of the militant group released from jail.
(This version CORRECTS that Sarkozy met late Wednesday.)
