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French government: Woman kidnapped in Yemen set free

French government: Woman kidnapped in Yemen set free

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

In this March 5, 2015, file photo, Yemeni activists hold a banner with pictures of kidnapped French Isabelle Prime, right, and her Yemeni colleague during a protest in Sanaa, Yemen. The French government said on Friday, Aug. 7, that Prime, who was kidnapped in Yemen in February, has been freed. Photo:AP

PARIS: A French woman who was abducted in Yemen in February along with her translator has been freed, France announced Friday. Isabelle Prime, 31, had been working in Yemen for the World Bank for about a year when she was kidnapped. She is now in the hands of French authorities and will be returned to France 'in the coming hours,' according to a statement early Friday from the presidential Elysee palace, which thanked the sultan of Oman for its help. Details of her release, including what group had been holding Prime, weren't divulged Friday. Prime was abducted in the rebel-held capital, Sanaa, along with her Yemeni translator, who was released shortly afterward. Earlier this year, a video surfaced showing Prime pleading for help. In the video, she appeared frail and anguished, and she urged the leaders of France and Yemen to allow her to return to France. Chaos is rampant in impoverished Yemen, with pro-government forces battling Shiite rebels. Oman has been a successful mediator in past hostage negotiations, including the American freelance journalist Casey Coombs, who had been held by Shiite Houthi rebels.