Pakistan/France

French hostage released

Article published on the 2009-08-21 Latest update 2009-08-21 14:30 TU

Quetta, capital of Pakistan's Balutchistan province
(Photo: www.flickr.com)

A French tourist who was kidnapped three months ago in Baluchistan, south-western Pakistan, was freed on Friday. The 41-year-old man is in good health and Pakistani authorities said his captors were "local criminals" and not Islamist fighters.

The identity of the Frenchman has not been disclosed, and he is due to be handed over by Pakistani authorities to French embassy officials Friday evening.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy expressed his relief and his thanks to "the Pakistani authorities for their help in this happy conclusion". The French tourist was seized in late May after coming into Pakistan in a camping-car with five others.

He was kidnapped less than 80 kilometres from the Afghan border.

Also on Friday a drone attack on Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan, killed at least 13 people. Pakistani officials described the dead as "all militants", saying some were "Afghan Taliban" and others were "local militants".

Only the US military and the CIA employ drones in the region.

The strike was the third since an attack reportedly killed Baitullah Mehsud, the Pakistani Taliban leader in South Waziristan on 5 August. Residents said militants opened fire shortly afterwards on Friday on a military checkpoint near Miranshah and three militants were reportedly killed in the return of fire.

Officials said two paramilitary troops were wounded in the exchange.