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French Cameroon hostages freed | French Cameroon hostages freed |
(35 minutes later) | |
Seven members of a French family abducted in Cameroon have been freed, officials in both countries have said. | Seven members of a French family abducted in Cameroon have been freed, officials in both countries have said. |
Cameroon's Communications Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary told the BBC said they were in good condition and unharmed. | Cameroon's Communications Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary told the BBC said they were in good condition and unharmed. |
The family, including four children, were abducted in February by gunmen on motorbikes after a visit to Waza National Park in northern Cameroon. | The family, including four children, were abducted in February by gunmen on motorbikes after a visit to Waza National Park in northern Cameroon. |
In a video published on YouTube, militants from the Nigerian group Boko Haram claimed to be holding them. | In a video published on YouTube, militants from the Nigerian group Boko Haram claimed to be holding them. |
President Francois Hollande said no ransom had been paid by France to secure the family's freedom. | |
Though he said secret talks had been taking place for the past few weeks to help secure their release, Reuters news agency reports. | |
"France has not changed its position, which is not to pay ransoms," the agency quotes him as saying at a news conference in Paris. | |
"I spoke to the father this morning... He told me how happy and relieved he was." | "I spoke to the father this morning... He told me how happy and relieved he was." |
The release of the hostages was announced on national radio in Cameroon on Friday morning. | The release of the hostages was announced on national radio in Cameroon on Friday morning. |
The statement from the presidency said they had been handed over to Cameroon authorities late on Thursday. | The statement from the presidency said they had been handed over to Cameroon authorities late on Thursday. |
According to the Associated Press news agency, both the Nigerian and French governments were thanked in the statement. | According to the Associated Press news agency, both the Nigerian and French governments were thanked in the statement. |
The family has now arrived at the French embassy in the capital, Yaounde, with a heavy security escort, AFP news agency reports. | The family has now arrived at the French embassy in the capital, Yaounde, with a heavy security escort, AFP news agency reports. |
The French president's office said that Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius had immediately left for Cameroon to greet the family, the agency said. | The French president's office said that Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius had immediately left for Cameroon to greet the family, the agency said. |
Mr Fabius told AFP the French hostage were freed overnight "in an area between Nigeria and Cameroon". | Mr Fabius told AFP the French hostage were freed overnight "in an area between Nigeria and Cameroon". |
Prisoner demand | Prisoner demand |
The family, who live in the Cameroonian capital, Yaounde, where the father worked for the French gas group Suez, had been returning from a holiday when they were kidnapped on 19 February. | The family, who live in the Cameroonian capital, Yaounde, where the father worked for the French gas group Suez, had been returning from a holiday when they were kidnapped on 19 February. |
In the YouTube video released about a week after their capture, the militants demanded the release of prisoners in Cameroon and Nigeria. | In the YouTube video released about a week after their capture, the militants demanded the release of prisoners in Cameroon and Nigeria. |
One of them also criticised President Hollande for sending troops to fight Islamist militants in northern Mali in January. | One of them also criticised President Hollande for sending troops to fight Islamist militants in northern Mali in January. |
"Let the French president know that he has launched war against Islam," he said. | "Let the French president know that he has launched war against Islam," he said. |
The French-led operation in Mali has ousted the Islamist groups, including al-Qaeda's North African branch, from cities and town in the vast desert region they had captured a year ago in the wake of a coup. | The French-led operation in Mali has ousted the Islamist groups, including al-Qaeda's North African branch, from cities and town in the vast desert region they had captured a year ago in the wake of a coup. |
Nigeria has contributed troops to a regional African force which has begun deploying to Mali to take over from French troops. | Nigeria has contributed troops to a regional African force which has begun deploying to Mali to take over from French troops. |
One of the hostages in the video said his captors were "Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad" - the official name for Boko Haram, as the Islamist group is popularly known in Nigeria. | One of the hostages in the video said his captors were "Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad" - the official name for Boko Haram, as the Islamist group is popularly known in Nigeria. |
Boko Haram, which began its insurgency following a deadly crackdown on its members in 2009, had previously said it was not involved in hostage taking. | Boko Haram, which began its insurgency following a deadly crackdown on its members in 2009, had previously said it was not involved in hostage taking. |
It has usually followed a Nigerian agenda, and says it wants to establish an Islamic state. | It has usually followed a Nigerian agenda, and says it wants to establish an Islamic state. |
During its insurgency at least 2,000 people have been kill in northern and parts of central Nigeria. | During its insurgency at least 2,000 people have been kill in northern and parts of central Nigeria. |
Another Islamist group, Ansaru - which was formed in 2012 and is believed to have links to al-Qaeda - is also active in northern Nigeria and has been involved in abducting foreigners. | Another Islamist group, Ansaru - which was formed in 2012 and is believed to have links to al-Qaeda - is also active in northern Nigeria and has been involved in abducting foreigners. |