[Published: Wednesday March 10 2010]
Spanish hostage in Africa freed
Madrid, 10 March-(ANA)-A Spanish woman kidnapped in West Africa last year has been freed, the Spanish government says.
There are unconfirmed reports that an Italian woman held by the same group has also been released.
Spaniard Alicia Gamez, and Italian Philomene Kaboure, both 39, were seized last year and held by a militant group, al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.
They were seized separately in Mauritania, and then held in neighbouring Mali.
Two other male Spaniards and another Italian - Ms Kaboure's husband - are still being held.
The two hostages were released in Burkina Faso, according to diplomatic sources cited by Spanish, French and Italian media.
The Spanish government later confirmed Ms Gamez' release, but there has been no confirmation about Ms Kaboure.
The three Spanish aid workers were snatched from a convoy by armed men on a road between the Mauritanian cities of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou on 29 November.
Ms Kaboure and her husband, Sergio Cicala, 65, were seized the following month.
They were all taken to northern Mali. (ANA)
FA/ANA/10 March 2010------
|