Car Kidnappers Free French Aid Worker

A French aid worker kidnapped earlier this week in the Central African Republic (CAR) was released on Friday, according to French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.



"Our fellow citizen, Claudia Priest, who was kidnapped earlier this week in the Central African Republic, is finally free," Fabius said on Twitter.



"It's a huge relief for all those who have worked towards this happy ending," Fabius said.



"I thank, in particular, the Central African government and religious leaders including the archbishop of Bangui," he added.



On Monday, Priest – along with a local Christian cleric – was reportedly kidnapped by the anti-balaka militia in the northern part of Bangui.



Sources within the militia told AA that the abduction had been intended to pave the way for "negotiating" the release of militia leader Rodrigue Ngaibona, who was detained by UN peacekeepers on Saturday.



CAR descended into anarchy in 2013 when Muslim seleka rebels removed President Francois Bozize, a Christian who had come to power in a 2003 coup. The rebels later installed Michel Djotodia, a Muslim, as interim president.



Djotodia stepped down last year to be replaced by a Christian leader amid a wave of sectarian violence.



Since then, the country has been plagued by tit-for-tat violence between Christian anti-balaka militiamen and former seleka fighters.



The 12,000-troop UN mission (MINUSCA) began deploying in the troubled central African country last year under a UN Security Council mandate.



www.aa.com.tr/en - Bangui