2 British tourists kidnapped in Congo freed

A bullet riddled sign marks the entrance to Virunga National Park, occupied by rebels and other armed militias during years of conflict near Goma in eastern Congo. (Reuters)

Britain's foreign secretary says that two British tourists being held hostage in Congo have been released two days after being kidnapped.

Boris Johnson didn't offer any further details in the statement released Sunday, but paid tribute to the authorities from the African country and the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation "for their tireless help during this terrible case."

BRITISH TOURISTS ABDUCTED, GUARD KILLED IN CONGO PARK AMBUSH

He said that "my thoughts are now with the family of Virunga Park ranger Rachel Makissa Baraka who was killed during the kidnapping, and with the injured driver."

The tourists and their driver were abducted in Virunga National Park in Congo.

Virunga is home to about one-quarter of the world's remaining mountain gorillas, and the work of protecting them has proven dangerous.