This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22213125

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
French Cameroon hostages freed Cameroon hostages: French Moulin-Fournier family 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 kidnapped by gunmen in northern Cameroon in February have been freed.
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 the Moulin-Fournier family, including four children, were in good condition.
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 had claimed to be holding them.
In a video published on YouTube, militants from the Nigerian group Boko Haram claimed to be holding them. The French president said France had not paid a ransom to free the family who are now in the capital, Yaounde.
President Francois Hollande said no ransom had been paid by France to secure the family's freedom. The family arrived at the French embassy with a heavy security escort, the AFP news agency reports.
Though he said secret talks had been taking place for the past few weeks to help secure their release, Reuters news agency reports. President Francois Hollande said secret talks had been taking place for the past few weeks to help secure their release, but the country had not paid a ransom, 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."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. Both the Nigerian and French governments were thanked in the statement, but no further explanation was given about how they were freed.
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, AFP reported.
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 demandPrisoner 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 Yaounde, where Tanguy Moulin-Fournier worked for the French gas group Suez, had been returning from a holiday in the Waza National Park in the far north of Cameroon when they were kidnapped by gunmen on motorbikes on 19 February.
Mr Moulin-Fournier, his wife Albane and four children, aged between five and 12, had been joined on their vacation by his brother Cyril.
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.