Al Qaeda Frees French Hostage After 3 Months

PARIS – The office of France's president says a French hostage who was held captive in Mali for three months by Al Qaeda's North Africa offshoot has been freed.

President Nicolas Sarkozy's office says in a statement that he called his counterpart in Mali to thank him for his handling of the crisis.

Camatte was abducted by Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb in November. He was freed Tuesday.

In exchange for Camatte, Al Qaeda's North Africa offshoot had demanded the release of four of its members jailed in Mali. A Mali court last week ordered their release.