NewsMine — war-on-terror — alqaeda — kidnappings — Viewing Item

French journalist freed in iraq after 5 months Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=auRAQTpA0axw&refer=europe http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=auRAQTpA0axw&refer=europe French Journalist Freed in Iraq After Five Months (Update2) June 12 (Bloomberg) -- Florence Aubenas, a journalist for French daily Liberation, and her interpreter Hussein Hanoun al- Saadi were freed more than five months after being kidnapped in Iraq. The two ``have been freed and are in good health,'' French President Jacques Chirac said in a televised speech on LCI. ``Florence is currently on a plane, which is taking her toward France. They're finally to rejoin their families and loved ones.'' The 44-year-old reporter, who was released yesterday afternoon, left Baghdad early today and is expected to arrive at a military airport near Paris around 9 p.m., accompanied by French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy, LCI said. Criminals seeking ransom have been blamed for some of the abductions of foreigners in Iraq since the invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003. Terrorists linked to al-Qaeda who want to disrupt reconstruction and force out U.S.-led troops have taken responsibility for others. Some 195 non-Iraqis have been seized in Iraq since May 2003, with 33 killed, 85 released, three escaped and two rescued, the Washington-based Brookings Institution said on its Web site, citing a tally through April 17. Hostages Aubenas and al-Saadi were seized on Jan. 5 in Baghdad, two weeks after French journalists Georges Malbrunot and Christian Chesnot were freed after being held hostage for four months in Iraq. ``She was thinner but surprisingly vivacious and smiling,'' Bernard Bajolet, France's ambassador to Iraq, told Agence France- Presse. ``She got through quite an ordeal with exceptional courage.'' In 2004, 19 journalists were killed in Iraq, according to Reporters Without Borders. For a while, Aubenas and al-Saadi were held in the same place as three Romanian journalists and their guide who were released May 22, Antoine de Gaudemar, managing editor at Liberation, told LCI. ``We've known for a while that the Romanian hostages shared some time the same location with Florence,'' de Gaudemar told LCI. ``Florence was apparently well treated and didn't suffer any abuse.'' Al-Saadi rejoined his family today in Baghdad, accompanied by an armed guard. Last Updated: June 12, 2005 07:13 EDT

berg-beheading Hassoun jill_carroll johnson-beheading 3 kidnapped in kabul { October 29 2004 } 6 egyptians 2 iraqis kidnapped in iraq { September 24 2004 } Afghan militants threaten united nations hostages { November 1 2004 } Aid worker hassan believed slain in video Alqaeda says kills egypt envoy in iraq Alqaeda website shows egyptian diplomat kidnapped { July 6 2005 } Brits rescue peace activists held hostage in iraq Egyptian diplomat kidnapped in iraq { July 23 2004 } Egyptians and iraqis kidnapped { September 25 2004 } Filipino hostage released in iraq after pullout { July 20 2004 } Freed egyptian says treated well by iraqi captors French journalist freed in iraq after 5 months Hostage begs britain to pull its troops out { October 23 2004 } Imprisoned women not freed as tensions grow Iraqi militants free two hostages Italian journalist held hostage pleads for life { February 16 2005 } Italy horror at hostage execution Japanese hostages freed { April 15 2004 } Japanese south koreans kidnapped by iraqis { April 8 2004 } Japanese studying depleted uranium taken hostage { April 12 2004 } Jeffrey ake from indiana pleads for his life { April 14 2005 } Kidnapped aid workers in afghanistan released Kidnapped polish woman freed Kidnappers snatch 2 americans 1 briton from homes Marine in kidnap video charged with desertion { December 10 2004 } Militants release video of japanese hostage { October 27 2004 } Peace group kidnapped in iraq { October 2005 } Philippines troops out of iraq Ransom from italians seen as fueling crisis { September 29 2004 } Second hostage killed in iraq Six foreign truck drivers threatened with beheading Tape of bigley decapitation posted on web Third beheading was south korean who spoke arabic Three headless bodies discovered north of baghdad Three iraqi kurd hostages beheaded Three members of allawi family abducted { November 10 2004 } Video of 11 iraqi soliders executed posted on web Video on web site shows beheading of man Files Listed: 38

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