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Last French hostage Lazarevic arrives back from Mali | Last French hostage Lazarevic arrives back from Mali |
(about 2 hours later) | |
France's last remaining hostage, Serge Lazarevic, has arrived home to a welcome from family members and French President Francois Hollande. | France's last remaining hostage, Serge Lazarevic, has arrived home to a welcome from family members and French President Francois Hollande. |
The 51-year-old was flown into a military airport outside Paris. | The 51-year-old was flown into a military airport outside Paris. |
Mr Lazarevic was snatched in Mali in November 2011 with fellow Frenchman Philippe Verdon. Mr Vernon was killed by militants from al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) last year. | Mr Lazarevic was snatched in Mali in November 2011 with fellow Frenchman Philippe Verdon. Mr Vernon was killed by militants from al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) last year. |
Mr Hollande says there are no more French hostages anywhere in the world. | Mr Hollande says there are no more French hostages anywhere in the world. |
The French government has repeatedly denied paying ransoms for the release of captives. | The French government has repeatedly denied paying ransoms for the release of captives. |
Mr Lazarevic was greeted by his daughter and other relatives, as well as Mr Hollande and French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, after his plane touched down at the Villacoublay military airport on Wednesday. | Mr Lazarevic was greeted by his daughter and other relatives, as well as Mr Hollande and French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, after his plane touched down at the Villacoublay military airport on Wednesday. |
In his first words on French soil, he said how wonderful it was to regain his freedom. "When you're on the verge of death, you think more about life," he said. | In his first words on French soil, he said how wonderful it was to regain his freedom. "When you're on the verge of death, you think more about life," he said. |
President Hollande welcomed him back, warning French travellers not to venture into areas where they could risk kidnap. "It's a dangerous world," he said. | President Hollande welcomed him back, warning French travellers not to venture into areas where they could risk kidnap. "It's a dangerous world," he said. |
Philippe Verdon's son, Clement, was among those welcoming Mr Lazarevic home and Mr Hollande said he was also thinking of Mr Verdon's family. | Philippe Verdon's son, Clement, was among those welcoming Mr Lazarevic home and Mr Hollande said he was also thinking of Mr Verdon's family. |
Mr Lazarevic was expected to be taken immediately to a military hospital for check-ups before joining his family. | Mr Lazarevic was expected to be taken immediately to a military hospital for check-ups before joining his family. |
There have been no details about how the release of Mr Lazarevic was secured. Anonymous sources told Reuters news agency that several Islamist-linked militants held in Mali were freed as part of a prisoner swap. Two were the main suspects behind the 2011 kidnapping, a Malian newspaper reported. | There have been no details about how the release of Mr Lazarevic was secured. Anonymous sources told Reuters news agency that several Islamist-linked militants held in Mali were freed as part of a prisoner swap. Two were the main suspects behind the 2011 kidnapping, a Malian newspaper reported. |
When asked about the reports, Agriculture Minister Stephane Le Foll refused to comment on things he did not know, but said only that there had been negotiations: "That's all you need to say." | |
France does not officially pay ransoms to militant groups but former anti-terrorism judge Alain Marsaud told French radio that some form of payment must have been made. "If it isn't the government, it's someone: maybe a business or an insurance company," he said. | France does not officially pay ransoms to militant groups but former anti-terrorism judge Alain Marsaud told French radio that some form of payment must have been made. "If it isn't the government, it's someone: maybe a business or an insurance company," he said. |
TV footage had earlier shown Mr Lazarevic smiling as he told reporters in Niger that he had lost about 20kg (44lb) during his ordeal. | TV footage had earlier shown Mr Lazarevic smiling as he told reporters in Niger that he had lost about 20kg (44lb) during his ordeal. |
"I would like to thank the people of Niger who have collaborated with France to get me freed," he said, adding that he felt "fine". | "I would like to thank the people of Niger who have collaborated with France to get me freed," he said, adding that he felt "fine". |
Mr Hollande also thanked the authorities in Niger and Mali, who had "worked towards this happy outcome". | Mr Hollande also thanked the authorities in Niger and Mali, who had "worked towards this happy outcome". |
Intervention | Intervention |
AQIM kidnapped a number of Western hostages before the French military deployed its forces against the group in January 2013. | AQIM kidnapped a number of Western hostages before the French military deployed its forces against the group in January 2013. |
There were at one point at least 14 French nationals being held by Islamists in West Africa. | There were at one point at least 14 French nationals being held by Islamists in West Africa. |
During his captivity, Mr Lazarevic appeared in several AQIM videos. | During his captivity, Mr Lazarevic appeared in several AQIM videos. |
Mr Verdon was killed last year, with the militants saying it was in retaliation for France's intervention in Mali. | Mr Verdon was killed last year, with the militants saying it was in retaliation for France's intervention in Mali. |
There was concern for his health in November after he was filmed pleading for his release. | There was concern for his health in November after he was filmed pleading for his release. |
He looked frail in the video and was filmed alongside a second hostage, Dutchman Sjaak Rijke. | He looked frail in the video and was filmed alongside a second hostage, Dutchman Sjaak Rijke. |
It is not clear where the two men were held or whether they were held together. | It is not clear where the two men were held or whether they were held together. |
Mr Rijke was kidnapped in November 2011, while visiting the city of Timbuktu as a tourist. There has been no news from him since the video. | Mr Rijke was kidnapped in November 2011, while visiting the city of Timbuktu as a tourist. There has been no news from him since the video. |