Paris, Dec 10 (IANS): France's last hostage in Mali returned home Wednesday after three years in captivity by Al Qaeda's north African arm, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).

Serge Lazarevic, 50, was welcomed by French President Francois Hollande and his relatives at the Villacoublay airport in western Paris. Lazarevic stressed that "freedom is the most priceless thing".

"Life is beautiful, to be free again. I forgot what freedom is. Don't ever forget," Xinhua quoted him as saying.

Welcoming Lazarevic back to France, Hollande said: "Welcome, Serge Lazarevic. We have been waiting for you for three years. Three years you have suffered. You are back. It is a joy to welcome you back."

Lazarevic, a French national of Serbian origin, was released Tuesday. He was kidnapped by AQIM on the night of Nov 24, 2011, together with Phillippe Verdon who was killed two years later. They were reportedly taking a business trip for a cement project, but were abducted from their hotel in Hombori.

French nationals and interests have been the target of Islamist fighters after Paris conducted military operations in Afghanistan, Mali and recently in Iraq.