Four French hostages kidnapped in Niger have been freed after three years in captivity.<br /><br />Thierry Dol, Marc Feret, Daniel Larribe and Pierre Legrand were working for French nuclear firm Areva when they were abducted in 2010. Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) claimed responsibility.<br /><br />The French government did not immediately disclose details about the conditions of the release, but denied that a ransom was paid.<br /><br />France’s Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian were in Miamey to greet the men and accompany them home.<br /><br />Niger’s President Mahamadou Issoufou said: “I’m happy for the hostages, they have their freedom after long months of imprisonment.”<br /><br />The elated mother of freed hostage Marc Feret spoke to her son on the telephone, saying: “I’ll take off the amulet I’ve been wearing since you were taken. A kiss until tomorrow, when I’ll see you.”
