French hostage freed, arrives in Khartoum

Thierry Frezier, a French citizen who had been held hostage by armed militants in Sudan's Darfur region, was released and arrived in Khartoum on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, the local government of North Darfur State declared that the National Intelligence and Security Service managed to free Frezier.

Frezier appeared in good health upon his arrival at Khartoum airport after being held hostage for 42 days by Sudanese rebels, who abducted him from Chad before moving him to Sudan's Darfur region.

"The kidnappers treated me well. I appreciate the efforts made by the security and military authorities to free me," Frezier told reporters.

Khalid Al-Kalas, director of borders and foreigners department at Sudan's Foreign Ministry, told reporters that rebel groups from Chad and Sudan were involved in the abduction of the French citizen.

"The kidnappers kept moving with the hostage from a place to another inside Sudanese territories," he said.

Al-Kalas also declared that the Sudanese security authorities have arrested the kidnappers.

"They will be presented for urgent trial," he said.

On March 26, France announced that a French national working for a mining company in Chad was abducted some 200 km south of the Chadian city of Abeche.

Chadian Chief of Security Ahmed Mohammed Bashir later said the abducted French man was moved to Sudan. Endit