European hostages freed in Mali in exchange for Islamists
A fighter with Islamist group MUJAO on patrol in Gao, northern Mali, on July 16. By Issouf Sanogo (AFP/File)
OUAGADOUGOU (AFP) - Three European aid workers released in Mali after being kidnapped by an Al-Qaeda-linked jihadist group were freed in exchange for three Islamists, a negotiator said on Thursday.
"There was a compensation, there were releases for releases," a member of the negotiation team told reporters, adding that the two Spaniards and an Italian freed on Wednesday were on their way home.