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Al-Qaeda 'releases Swiss hostage' Al-Qaeda 'releases Swiss hostage'
(30 minutes later)
A Swiss man held hostage for six months by members of al-Qaeda in Mali has been freed, reports say.A Swiss man held hostage for six months by members of al-Qaeda in Mali has been freed, reports say.
Werner Greiner - seized in Niger - is the last of six Western hostages held by a group calling itself al-Qaeda in the Islamic Magreb.Werner Greiner - seized in Niger - is the last of six Western hostages held by a group calling itself al-Qaeda in the Islamic Magreb.
In May, the group announced on a website that it had killed British hostage Edwin Dyer.In May, the group announced on a website that it had killed British hostage Edwin Dyer.
The group had been demanding the release of radical Muslim cleric Abu Qatada from a UK prison.The group had been demanding the release of radical Muslim cleric Abu Qatada from a UK prison.
"The Swiss hostage has been freed, he is very tired, and will soon be reunited with his family," a source close to local authorities in the north of the country told the French news agency AFP.
It was not immediately clear if a ransom had been paid to secure Mr Greiner's release.
Mr Greiner and his wife were seized, along with four other tourists, near the Mali border on 22 January.
His wife, Gabriella Barco Greiner, was released by the hostage-takers in April.