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Yemen hostage Isabelle Prime returns to France after release | |
(about 20 hours later) | |
A French woman who was taken hostage in Yemen in February has arrived in Paris after being freed by her captors. | |
Isabelle Prime, 30, touched down at Villacoublay air base on Friday where she was greeted by her family and the French President Francois Hollande. | |
Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said France had not paid a ransom, but singled out Oman for its "enormous help" in securing her release. | |
Ms Prime was working as a consultant on a World Bank-funded project in Yemen. | |
She was captured, along with her translator Sherine Makkaoui, as they made their way to the capital Sanaa on 24 February. Ms Makkaoui was released in March. | |
The identity of their kidnappers has not been confirmed. | |
Ms Prime's father Jean-Noel said he was "unbelievably happy" to have his daughter back. | |
"She's in good health but I don't have any further details," he told the AFP news agency. | |
In June, France said that a video showing Ms Prime clearly in in distress was authentic. | In June, France said that a video showing Ms Prime clearly in in distress was authentic. |
Dressed in black, she appealed to President Francois Hollande and the Yemeni authorities to arrange her release because she was "really, really tired". | Dressed in black, she appealed to President Francois Hollande and the Yemeni authorities to arrange her release because she was "really, really tired". |
"I tried to kill myself several times because I know you will not co-operate and I totally understand." | "I tried to kill myself several times because I know you will not co-operate and I totally understand." |
Oman News Agency said the country had played a role in negotiating her freedom in co-ordination with "some Yemeni parties", after a request from the French government. | |
No other details of the release were given. | |
Oman, which borders Yemen, has helped to facilitate the release of other captives, including American journalist Casey Coombs, who was freed by Shia Houthi rebels earlier this year. | |
In recent years tribesmen in Yemen have kidnapped foreigners as a means of putting pressure on the government to provide them with better services or to release jailed relatives. | |
More than 3,000 people have been killed since a Saudi Arabian-led coalition began air strikes in March to drive back Houthi rebels. | More than 3,000 people have been killed since a Saudi Arabian-led coalition began air strikes in March to drive back Houthi rebels. |
Aid agencies say a Saudi-enforced sea and air blockade on the country has worsened the humanitarian crisis after months of conflict. More than 80% of Yemen's 25 million people now need some form of aid. | Aid agencies say a Saudi-enforced sea and air blockade on the country has worsened the humanitarian crisis after months of conflict. More than 80% of Yemen's 25 million people now need some form of aid. |
The fighting has also caused huge damage to the country's infrastructure, and the blockade has caused severe shortages of food, water, medicine and fuel. | The fighting has also caused huge damage to the country's infrastructure, and the blockade has caused severe shortages of food, water, medicine and fuel. |