Paris, Dec 9 (IANS): French Preisdent Francois Hollande Tuesday announced that the last remaining French hostage in the hands of Al Qaeda's north African arm, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), has been freed.
"Serge Lazarevic, our last hostage, is freed. France has no more hostages, in any part of the world," Hollande said.
Lazarevic, 50, was kidnapped by AQIM on the night of Nov 24, 2011, together with Phillippe Verdon who was killed two years after, reports Xinhua.
The two Frenchmen were taking a business trip for a cement project, but were abducted from their hotel in Hombori, according to reports which cited their families.
In a statement issued by his office, the French president added that Lazarevic was en route for the Nigerian capital Niamey and he would be rapidly repatriated.
"Despite harsh conditions of his long captivity, Lazarevic is relatively healthy," Hollande said.