French hostage freed in Mali – family

The family of the last French hostage held by Islamists in Mali say she has been released, though Malian and French authorities have not confirmed or denied the claim.

Sophie Pétronin—a 75-year-old aid worker—was on her way to the capital, Bamako, the family said on Tuesday.

Ms Pétronin was abducted by al-Qaeda-linked gunmen in the northern city of Gao where she had been running a charity.

Reports from Mali say that another hostage, the veteran opposition and former presidential candidate Soumaïla Cissé, 70, has also been released by the militants.

Soumaïla Cissé was abducted while on a campaign trail. He had been held since March.

There are indications that the releases are part of a deal that includes more than 100 imprisoned jihadists being set free by the authorities.