Three French aid workers freed after being held hostage in Yemen for five months have returned to France.
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Three French hostages kidnapped by Al-Qaeda militants in Yemen more than five months ago were on their way home on Monday after being freed on payment of a ransom, tribal sources and correspondents said. French foreign minister Alain Juppe welcomed their release.
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French hostages kidnapped by Al-Qaeda on YouTube.
French Hostages in Yemen
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The three humanitarian aid workers, including two women and a man, had been working in Yemen since 1998 before being abducted in the southeastern province of Hadramout on May 28. The statement from the president's office said French President Nicolas Sarkozy thanked the Sultan of Oman and the Omanese authorities for their "crucial" help, as well as those who contributed to the resolution of the hostage problem. It did not elaborate on how the hostage issue was resolved. Yemen has long been plagued by kidnappings of foreigners by powerful tribesmen to seek ransom or press the government to meet their demands, including releasing jailed clansmen. Three French nationals kidnapped in southern Yemen in late May were freed on Monday thanks to the Omani government's mediation and were airlifted to the neighboring country's capital Muscat, a Yemeni security official said. "They were in good health," he said on condition of anonymity, adding that "al-Qaida was not behind the kidnapping." Earlier, the French government confirmed the release of their nationals in Yemen and their arrivals in Oman, saying that "French President Nicolas Sarkozy thanked the Sultan of Oman and the Omani authorities for their crucial help, as well as those who contributed to the resolution of the hostage problem." On June 28, a spokesman of the Yemeni government said the three French aid workers who were kidnapped on May 28 in Yemen's southeastern province of Hadramout "are still alive and their whereabouts have been located."
Three French hostages kidnapped by Al-Qaeda militants in Yemen more than five months ago were on their way home on Monday after being freed on payment of a ransom, tribal sources and correspondents said. "We, the three of us, are very thankful to his majesty Sultan Qaboos of Oman for his involvement and all the efforts deployed to lead us to freedom and we are very grateful for the great hospitality we have had during our stay in Oman," one of the hostages told reporters on his arrival in Oman. They have not been identified. The former hostages were greeted at the military airbase by Frances ambassador to Oman, Malika Berak who said the French citizens "are healthy" and thanked Sultan Qaboos for his "efforts" in securing their release. The three aid workers had flown in from the Omani city of Salalah, about 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) south of the capital and near the border with Yemen where they had been held captive, a tribal official involved in their release told AFP. Al-Qaeda militants have freed three French aid workers they kidnapped in Yemen more than five months ago, the French presidency and local officials said Monday. The three were in good health, according to a tribal chief involved in negotiating the trio's release, while a security official in southern Shabwa province said they would later Monday be transferred to the capital Sanaa. "They are with me in Ataq (south Yemen), an hour after they were freed by Al-Qaeda," the tribal chief said. News of their release was greeted by their Triangle Generation Humanitaire group, a French non-governmental organisation, as a "huge relief" after months of anxious waiting. France thanked Oman, which borders Yemen to the east, for its "deciding assistance" in securing their freedom, without specifying what role it played.
Muscat: Three French hostages kidnapped by Al-Qaeda militants in Yemen more than five months ago arrived Monday in the Omani capital Muscat after being freed, an AFP correspondent said. The three aid workers, two women and a man, had flown in from the Omani city of Salalah, about 1,000km south of the capital and near the border with Yemen where they had been held captive, a tribal official involved in their release told AFP.
The presidential palace released a statement reading: "The president was informed tonight of the liberation of the 3 aid workers held in Yemen since May 28, 2011." The three hostages were kidnapped in the eastern province of Hadramaut where they were all working for the French based humanitarian organization, Triangle Génération Humanitaire as they were conducting a field trip near Sayoun. There had been much controversy surrounding the abduction as recently the hostages released a video tape on YouTube accusing the French government of ignoring their fate although they knew the terms of their release. According to both governments and tribal sources the kidnappers were trying to blackmail the Yemeni government into releasing prisoners belonging to their tribe as well as the payment of several million dollars. France's ambassador to Oman, Malika Berak, receives three French aid workers held hostage in Yemen since May upon their arrival in Muscat November 14, 2011. Three French aid workers held hostage by Yemeni tribesmen since May 28 have been freed after neighbouring Oman negotiated their release, paying an unspecified sum to their captors on behalf of the French government, a Yemeni tribal source said.
Three French aid workers held hostage by al-Qaida militants in Yemen have been freed with the help of the sultan of Oman after nearly six months in captivity, the French president's office said Monday. French President Nicolas Sarkozy says three French aid workers kidnapped in Yemen nearly six months ago have been freed with help from the sultan of Oman. In a statement Monday, Mr. Sarkozy thanked the Omani leader for his "decisive help," but did not elaborate on the details of the release. "The president was informed tonight of the liberation of the three aid workers held in Yemen since May 28, 2011," the French presidential palace said in a statement. "The president warmly thanks the Sultan of Oman and the Omanese authorities for their crucial help, as well as all those who contributed to this happy resolution." The statement, which said Sarkozy "shared the joy" of the aid workers' families, did not say how their release had been secured. The three workers, who had been seized by suspected al-Qaeda militants in the Hadramawt town of Seyun, 600km east of the capital, Sanaa in May are reported to be in good health. French President Nicolas Sarkozy confirmed their release last night and thanked the Sultan of Oman for his help in securing their release. In a statement, Mr Sarkozy's office said: "The President warmly thanks the Sultan of Oman and the Omanese authorities for their crucial help, as well as all those who contributed to this happy resolution." French president Nicolas Sarkozy's office announced the release of the hostages, but offered no further details. They however, insisted that the government did not pay the $12 million ransom demanded. Sarkozy "warmly thanks the sultan of Oman and the Oman authorities for their decisive help, as well as all those who contributed to this happy outcome," the statement said, without elaborating.
A ransom of "several million dollars" was said to have been paid for the three after negotiations involving a leading Yemeni businessman, now exiled in Oman. They all worked for the French non-governmental aid group Triangle G'n'ration Humanitaire, and news of their release was given in a statement by the Elys'e. President Sarkozy said he "warmly thanked the sultan of Oman and the Omani authorities for their decisive help as well as all those who contributed to this happy outcome". Triangle vice-president Pierre Verbruggen said he shared the "great relief" on hearing the news. The two women and a man were worked for French charity Triangle Generation Humanitaire. French President Nicolas Sarkozy thanked the Sultan of Oman for his help in securing their release. "The president warmly thanks the Sultan of Oman and the Omanese authorities for their crucial help, as well as all those who contributed to this happy resolution," said a statement from Mr Sarkozys office.The three were abducted by suspected militants on May 28 in the Hadramawt town of Seyun, 600 kilometers east of the Yemeni capital, Sanaa. The office of the French president Nicolas Sarkozy confirmed their release last night, and thanked the Sultan of Oman for helping to secure their freedom. "The president warmly thanks the Sultan of Oman and the Omanese authorities for their crucial help, as well as all those who contributed to this happy resolution." French President Nicolas Sarkozy's office issued a statement announcing the release early Monday, but provided no details of what happened. Sarkozy "warmly thanks the sultan of Oman and the Oman authorities for their decisive help, as well as all those who contributed to this happy outcome," the statement said, without elaborating.
The Arabian Peninsula country has been in the grip of civil unrest for months and Hadramout is among provinces where al Qaeda's Yemen-based wing has been active. "The president warmly thanks the Sultan of Oman and the Omanese authorities for their crucial help, as well as all those who contributed to this happy resolution," the president's office said in a statement. The statement, which said Sarkozy "shared the joy" of the aid workers' families, did not say how their release had been secured. We do not pay ransom." President Nicolas Sarkozy's office issued a statement, saying the president "warmly thanks the sultan of Oman and the Oman authorities for their decisive help, as well as all those who contributed to this happy outcome."French authorities insist the government does not pay ransoms. Sarkozy "warmly thanks the sultan of Oman and the Oman authorities for their decisive help, as well as all those who contributed to this happy outcome," the statement said, without elaborating.
On July 27, tribal sources said the kidnappers were from Al-Qaeda and were demanding a ransom of $12 million. The three appeared in an online video in September, saying their abductors' demands had not been met. France "warmly thanks the sultan of Oman and the Omani authorities for their deciding assistance, and all the people who contributed to this happy outcome", the French presidency said in a statement. Al-Kour has served as the hide-out for several top leader's of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and the much sought after U.S. cleric Anwar al-Awlaqi, killed in a suspected U.S. drone strike on September 30. The tribal source said the hostages were then transferred to the town of Azzan, another Al-Qaeda hub before their final relocation to Shabwa's capital Ataq, where they spent Saturday night. He said the hostages were released Sunday morning to tribesmen who escorted them in three separate vehicles travelling two hours apart to the Omani border where they arrived after a day-long journey through the lawless territory of southern Yemen. A tribal chief who led the mediation efforts with Al-Qaeda said a "ransom was paid" to secure the release of the hostages but he did not reveal the amount or say who paid it. The former hostages were members of the French NGO Triangle Generation Humanitaire which expressed "huge relief" after receiving news of their release but declined to name the three, saying only they were between the ages of 25 and 30. It remains unclear what Oman's role has been in securing the release of the hostages. A Yemeni businessman, Ahmed al-Souraimeh Ferid Ben, who was exiled to Oman in the 1990s and who worked for the hostages release, accompanied the French citizens on the plane. A tribal source told AFP that the hostages had travelled to Salalah by car from their place of captivity in Yemens Shabwa province. He said all three were freed Saturday but an announcement of their release was delayed until they safely crossed the border into Oman Sunday night. News of their release broke early Monday in a statement released by the French presidential palace.
The process of releasing the captives held by Al-Qaeda since May 28 began last Tuesday and did not end until the last hostage was handed over to Omani officials on Saturday night. Abdel Salam said he first drove one of the female captives through the desert to a border town in Oman last Tuesday. "The trip took 17 hours because we were careful to avoid military checkpoints along the way," he said adding that the woman spoke "little Arabic but we managed to communicate using hand signs." She was the first of the three captives, two women and a man who have not been named, to be driven to the Omani border where Abdel Salam said both French and Omani officials were waiting to greet them. "It was best to dress him like a Yemeni," he said, adding that he stopped with him in the desert to take a picture, and also posed separately with the two other hostages on their way to freedom. Abdel Salam said he asked the male captive to write a letter to the third and last hostage to reassure her that she would be freed soon. "I handed the letter to the woman and she was relieved and agreed to come with me," he said. The last captive arrived at the Omani border on Saturday night, he said. Abdel Salam, who says he was personally involved in the mediation efforts, said the actual release of the hostages was coordinated by a Yemeni businessman, Ahmed ben Ferid al-Souraimeh, and the French ambassador in Oman. He added that the negotiations with Al-Qaeda took place through "mediators who were both close to the tribes and close to Al-Qaeda." The hostages arrived in the Omani capital Muscat on Monday where they gave a brief statement to the press and then boarded a plane to Paris.
ADEN, Yemen - Three French hostages kidnapped by Al-Qaeda militants in Yemen more than five months ago are on their way home, a tribal official involved in their release said on Monday. "They travelled by land to the Sultanate of Oman and will be flying to France from there," the chief who led the mediation efforts with Al-Qaeda militants told AFP. He said the three former hostages - two men and a woman - were in "good health." Al-Qaeda militants have freed three French aid workers they kidnapped in Yemen more than five months ago, the French presidency and local officials said Monday. Three French aid workers who were kidnapped in Yemen in May have been released, the French authorities say. They had been seized by suspected al-Qaeda militants in the town of Seyun, 600km (375 miles) east of the capital, Sanaa. According reports from the Associated Press, the three French aid workers kidnapped in Yemen and held by al-Qaeda militants for nearly six months have been released.
PARIS, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Three French aid workers held hostage in Yemen since late May have been freed, said a French government statement released early on Monday. Three French aid workers held hostage in Yemen since May 28 have been freed, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said. PARIS -- French president says 3 French aid workers freed after 6 months held hostage in Yemen.
It took several days and 17-hour road-trips through rugged desert to steer to freedom three French hostages abducted by Al-Qaeda in Yemen, the tribesmen who drove them told AFP on Monday. In a telephone interview after the aid workers boarded a plane to Paris, tribal chief Ali Abdel Salam said he had the unique task of ensuring all three hostages were driven safely from Al-Qaeda strongholds in Yemen's lawless regions across the border to Oman. "I drove all three of them, one at a time, accompanied by my two brothers," he said. The aid workers had been working for the French non- governmental organization Triangle Generation Humanitaire in Yemen since 1998. Yemen has long been plagued by kidnappings of foreigners by powerful tribesmen who seek ransoms or press the government to meet their demands, including releasing jailed clansmen. The aid group Triangle Generation Humanitaire said the three workers were in good health. The circumstances of their release remained murky. A senior Yemeni tribal mediator said the Omani government and a Yemeni businessman paid a ransom, though he gave no figure and the ransom couldn't immediately be confirmed. The hostages -- two women and one man from the Triangle Generation Humanitaire, an aid group that works on improving farming infrastructure in Yemen -- were abducted on 28 May in eastern Yemen's Hadramawt province, home to al Qaeda in Arabian Peninsula, the AP reported. The Lyon-based aid group are yet to comment on the release of their staff. The three hostages two women and a man worked for the French charity Triangle Generation Humanitaire. They were abducted May 28 in Yemens eastern Hadramawt province, an area where al-Qaidas local wing has been active.
The two women and one man from Triangle Generation Humanitaire were abducted on 28 May in eastern Yemen's Hadramawt province, which is home to al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. "We know they are in good physical shape," a director of the group, Patrick Verbruggen, told The Associated Press.
Tribal sources said in July that the three - from French non-governmental group Triangle Generation Humanitaire - were seized by Al-Qaeda militants in a restaurant in the Hadramawt town of Seyun, 370 miles east of Sanaa. Their car was found on the road 13 miles from Shibam, a city known as the "Manhattan of the Desert" because of its spectacular high-rise mud-brick buildings, a Yemeni security official said at the time. In July, tribal sources said the French aid workers were seized by Al-Qaeda militants in the Hadramawt town of Seyun, 600 kilometres (370 miles) east of Sanaa. "The president was informed tonight of the liberation of the three aid workers," a presidential palace statement said. The aid workers disappeared on May 28 and, according to a tribal source who helped arrange their freedom, were moved to several different hide-outs in their months of captivity. They were kidnapped in Yemen's Hadramawt province and remained captive in the town of Seyun, 600 kilometres (370 miles) east of Sanaa for several weeks before being moved to a farm in the town of Loder, an Al-Qaeda stronghold in the restive Abyan province.
Three French aid workers who were kidnapped in Yemen nearly six months ago have been released with the help of the Sultan of Oman. THREE French aid workers kidnapped in Yemen have been freed with the help of the sultan of Oman after nearly six months in captivity, it was revealed today.
THREE AID WORKERS who were held captive by al-Qaeda for six months have been freed. They were freed thanks to help from the sultan of Oman and a possible ransom payment, officials said today.
The only man among three released aid workers, who sported unkempt long beard, thanked Oman and its ruler. "We three are very thankful to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos for his involvement that lead us to tour freedom," he said.
Three French aid workers kidnapped in Yemen more than five months ago have been freed. PARIS: Three French aid workers kidnapped in Yemen more than five months ago have been freed, the French presidential palace said on Monday.
Yemen: Al Qaeda releases French aid workers - Telegraph We no longer check to see whether Telegraph.co.uk displays properly in Internet Explorer version 6 or earlier.
"The president was informed tonight of the liberation of the three aid workers held in Yemen since May 28," it said in a statement. Kidnappings of Western tourists or aid workers by tribes seeking ransom or concessions from the government have been frequent in Yemen, one of the Arab worlds poorest countries.
Abdu al-Janadi, a Yemeni government spokesman, told reporters on Sunday the hostages were held by al-Qaida militants in Shabwa and that the abductors threatened to kill the hostages if the Yemeni government didn't pay a ransom by the end of the week. Kidnappings are common in Yemen, where tribesmen use abductions to try to force concessions from the government, such as the release of fellow tribesmen in prison. The mediator said Oman and Yemeni tribesmen negotiated the release, and that the hostages were handed over to mediators one by one. He said a helicopter carried the hostages from the southern Yemeni city of Shabwa _ a hotbed of Islamic militants _ to Oman late Sunday. The mediator spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media. He didn't give further details. Authorities in Oman did not comment on the release or its government's role. The state-run Oman News Agency quoted a Foreign Ministry official as saying that Oman helped find the hostages because of its "distinguished relations" with France.
Ahmad Al Farid, Yemeni businessman who has been living in Oman after exiled from Yemen, also worked for the hostages' release. He accompanied the French citizens on the plane from Salalah to Muscat. French president Nicolas Sarkozy's office thanked Oman but did not say how the hostages' release had been secured. A statement from French President Nicolas Sarkozy's office announcing the release provides no details of what happened.
A statement from Nicolas Sarkozy's office thanked the sultan and authorities in Oman for those who helped secure the release. The statement from Nicolas Sarkozy's office announcing the release provides no details of what happened.
The French president's office confirmed on Monday that the release was aided by the Sultan of Oman. All three were members of the French NGO Triangle Generation Humanitaire and first disappeared on May 28. Early Monday, the French presidency announced their release and expressed its thanks to neighbouring Oman for assisting in securing their freedom. The kidnappers had reportedly demanded a '7million ransom for the three, who worked for French charity Triangle Generation Humanitaire. The three worked for French charity Triangle Generation Humanitaire. They were snatched from a restaurant in the south-eastern province of Hadramout.
The two men and one woman worked for the French charity Triangle Génération Humanitaire. "They traveled by land to the Sultanate of Oman and will be flying to France from there."
None of the three took questions. One of the girls had her right thumb bandaged but it was not known what was the injury. "I know it has been a very difficult task and we are really grateful to the Omani authorities for their efforts in the long period," French ambassador to Oman, Malika Berak, said. "I know Omani authorities have a worked a lot to get this result (freedom for captured aid workers). We are very grateful to Oman," she added. French authorities maintain the French government does not pay ransoms. Kidnappings are common in Yemen where tribesmen use abduction to try to force concessions from the government, such as the release of fellow tribesmen from prison. A visiting U.N. envoy met with Saleh to push for a solution to the country's political crisis. Kidnappings are common in Yemen, where tribesmen use abductions to try to force concessions from the government, such as the release of fellow tribesmen in prison. Associated Press writer Jamal Al-Jashini in Sanaa, Yemen, contributed to this report.
Hostage taking in Yemen, although frequent, usually sees the victims released, however concern had been growing due to the continued political turmoil in the country. Omanese authorities for their crucial help, as well as all those who contributed to this happy resolution.
No details have been released about the circumstances of the release, but the tribal official who led the mediation said Monday a ransom was paid to secure the hostage's release. He did not specify how much was paid, or who made the payment.Earlier reports said the kidnappers were demanding a ransom of $12 million. The three, among more than 200 foreigners kidnapped over the past 15 years; had appeared in an online video in September, saying the demands of their abductors had not been met. Almost all those released have been unharmed. Kidnappers linked to al-Qaida's offshoot in the region had demanded a $12 million in exchange for the three, and had threatened to kill the hostages if ransom wasn't paid imminently, according to Yemeni officials. A Yemeni mediator said the Omani government and a Yemeni businessman paid a ransom, though he gave no figure and the ransom couldn't immediately be confirmed.
Abdu al-Janadi, a Yemeni government spokesman, told reporters on Sunday the hostages were held by al-Qaida militants in Shabwa and that the abductors threatened to kill the hostages if the Yemeni government didn't pay a ransom by the end of the week. Yemeni government forces and allied tribesmen killed 10 militants in attacks around the country Sunday, security officials said.
The Yemeni government has declared that thanks to the mediation effort of al-Awalaq tribe the French man and 2 women had been released into government custody. "They are with me in Ataq, an hour after they were freed by Al Qaeda," he said. SANA'A: The French government announced in the early hours of Monday that three French nationals who had been kidnapped over five months ago by alleged al-Qaeda militants had finally been freed. The French presidential palace has been informed tonight of the liberation today. Tribal sources say they were seized by al-Qaeda militants in the Hadramawt town of Seyun, 600 kilometres east of Sanaa. On July 27, tribal sources said the "kidnappers are Al-Qaeda members and are demanding a ransom of $12 million" for the release of the three. The three appeared in an online video in September, saying their abductors' demands had not been met. Several days later, tribal sources said the kidnappers were from Al-Qaeda and were demanding a ransom of $12 million (S$15 million).
Men linked to al-Qaeda's offshoot in Yemen demanded $12 million in ransom for the three, security officials said in July. Kidnappers linked to al-Qaida's offshoot in Yemen had demanded a $12 million ransom for the three, security officials and local tribesmen said earlier this year.
A $12 million ransom was demanded for the release of the three French men, according to security officials.
In July, men linked to the terrorist groups Yemeni offshoot had demanded a $12 million ransom for the three. "We are sharing a moment of happiness." He said he had no details about how they were released, whether a ransom was paid, or when they would return to France. The aid group, based in Lyon, France, pulled out its expatriate employees from Yemen after the kidnapping, though Yemeni employees remain. The aid group, based in Lyon, France, could not immediately be reached for comment Monday on the release.
Al-Awalq' Sheikh negotiated the release of the aid workers with Fahd al-Qussa, a leader of al-Qaeda in the region.
The tribal chief said Monday a ransom was paid to secure the hostage's release, but did not specify how much was paid, or who footed the bill. The AP report stated that a senior Yemeni tribal mediator said Monday that Oman and Yemeni leaders had mediated the release.
The report did not mention a ransom, saying only that Sultan Qaboos Bin Said ordered Oman authorities to provide "all facilities" to help find the hostages. The hostages were transported from the southern Yemeni ciy of Shabwa to Oman late on Sunday. At the military base, the freed hostages were greeted by France's ambassador to Oman, Malika Berak.
The hostages disappeared on May 28. News of their release broke early Monday with a statement from the French presidential palace. A few weeks ago, a statement was issued announcing that the French hostages would be executed if the group's demands continued to be ignored.
An increase in attacks by U.S. drones on suspected Al-Qaeda targets in the province forced the kidnappers to "relocate the hostages to Al-Kour," a barren mountainous region that straddles Abyan and Shabwa province, the tribal source told AFP. Local Yemen sources said Monday that leaders of the Al-Awalaq tribe led negotiations with Fahd al-Qusso, a tribe member and a leader of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which kidnapped the three. In September, the Gulf state paid the ransom for two U.S. hikers held by Iran for more than two years. Local Yemen sources said Monday that leaders of the Al-Awalaq tribe led negotiations with Fahd al-Qusso, a tribe member and an AQAP leader wanted by the United States for his role in the attack on the USS Cole in October of 2000 which left 17 people dead.
Kidnappings of Western tourists or workers by tribes seeking ransom or concessions from the government have been frequent in Yemen, one of the poorest Arab countries.
The hostage ordeal came amid an uprising against the 30-year reign of President Ali Abdullah Saleh that has unraveled security in Yemen, the Arab world's poorest country.
