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| Syria conflict: French journalists freed | Syria conflict: French journalists freed |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Four French journalists held captive in Syria for almost a year have been freed, President Francois Hollande said on Saturday. | Four French journalists held captive in Syria for almost a year have been freed, President Francois Hollande said on Saturday. |
| In a statement, Mr Hollande said he had "learned with great relief this morning of the liberation of the four French journalists". | In a statement, Mr Hollande said he had "learned with great relief this morning of the liberation of the four French journalists". |
| Edouard Elias, Didier François, Nicolas Henin and Pierre Torres were "in good health," he added. | |
| The four men had been held hostage in Syria since June 2013. | The four men had been held hostage in Syria since June 2013. |
| They were reported to have been found by Turkish soldiers on the border with Syria with their hands and eyes bound. | They were reported to have been found by Turkish soldiers on the border with Syria with their hands and eyes bound. |
| The four went missing in two separate incidents in June. | |
| The jihadist group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isis) were accused of kidnapping them. | |
| Mr Hollande said they would be returning to France in the coming hours. | Mr Hollande said they would be returning to France in the coming hours. |
| "I share the joy of the families of our compatriots who have endured the fear of this trying time," he added. | |
| Mr Francois, a veteran war correspondent working for Europe 1 radio, and Mr Elias, a photographer, were abducted in early June on their way to Aleppo. | |
| Mr Henin, who was working for Le Point magazine, and Mr Torres, reporting for French-German television channel Arte, were taken later that month. | |
| Syria has become one of the most dangerous places for journalists. | Syria has become one of the most dangerous places for journalists. |
| More than 60 have been killed in the country since the beginning of the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad three years ago. | More than 60 have been killed in the country since the beginning of the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad three years ago. |