2 Algerian Diplomats Kidnapped İn Mali Freed: Tv

A militant Malian group had freed two out of three Algerian diplomats it kidnapped in April 2012, a private Algerian TV reported Saturday.



The fate of the third diplomat remains uncertain, the private TV, Echorouk, added.



It said the three diplomats were held by the militant Tawhid and Jihad movement in western Africa, noting that the two freed diplomats had already arrived in the Algerian capital.



It added that the two diplomats were received at the Algerian Foreign Ministry, even without mentioning who received them at the ministry.



The Algerian Foreign Ministry is yet to comment on the reported release of the two diplomats.



In April 2012, Tawhid and Jihad had kidnapped seven Algerian diplomats from the Algerian consulate in Gao Region, northeastern Mali.



The movement later released three diplomats, but it returned to say that it executed one more diplomat.



It said it executed the diplomat because Algerian authorities refused to release some leaders of the militant movement Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.



The Algerian Foreign Ministry said, however, that it did not have material evidence of the execution of the diplomat.



By Mohamed Zayan



englishnews@aa.com.tr



www.aa.com.tr/en - Alger