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Malian government confirms prisoners released for freeing of French hostage

A Malian government spokesman said four men were freed in exchange for the release of Serge Lazarevic by al-Qaida's North African branch.

La rédaction de Mediapart

15 December 2014 à 17h29

This article is freely available.

The Malian government says it exchanged four prisoners to secure the release of a French hostage held for three years by al-Qaida's North African branch, reports ABC News.

The liberation of Serge Lazarevic last week revived debate among Western governments over whether to negotiate with hostage-takers.

Mali government spokesman Mahamane Baby said Sunday that al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb demanded the release of six prisoners "but the government freed only four, including two Malians."

The French government has not publicly confirmed a prisoner exchange or explained the circumstances of Lazarevic's release.

Read more of this AP report published by ABC News.

La rédaction de Mediapart

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