French aid workers freed in Yemen

Three French aid workers kidnapped in Yemen have been freed, with the help of the sultan of Oman, after nearly six months in captivity, officials in Paris have revealed.

A statement from French president Nicolas Sarkozy's office thanked the sultan and authorities in Oman for those who helped secure the release.

The two women and one man from the aid group Triangle Generation Humanitaire were abducted May 28 in eastern Yemen. Men linked to al Qaida's offshoot in Yemen had demanded a 12 million dollar (£7.4 million) ransom for the trio.

Security in Yemen has largely unravelled since the outbreak of an uprising against president Ali Abdullah Saleh in February.

AP