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 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. Furthermore, 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. 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. Ataq is the administrative capital of Yemen's southern province of Chabwa. Al-Awalq' Sheikh negotiated the release of the aid workers with Fahd al-Qussa, a leader of al-Qaeda in the region. The French nationals are believed to be in good health. BM
