French family kidnapped in Cameroon released unharmed

Paris, April 19 (IANS) A French family of seven, including four children and kidnapped in Cameroon two months ago, has been released safely, the French president's office said Friday.

All seven members of the Mill-Fournier family were in good health, and Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has travelled to Cameroon to greet the freed family, Xinhua reported citing the president's office.

The family was kidnapped two months ago in the north of Cameroon from where they were taken to Nigeria. Islamist cell Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.

President Francois Hollande Friday said the family will return to France in a few days.

"It's a great relief that the hostages kidnapped in Cameroon have been released. This family, in few days, will be in France," Hollande said.

"This good news makes us more determined to free the remaining hostages," he said, stressing that France "does not pay ransom".

Xinhua said eight French nationals, including four children, were still in the hands of Al Qaeda-linked groups in Africa's Sahel region.

Following its military commitment in Afghanistan and Mali, Islamist extremists have warned that safety of French people was at risk "wherever they find themselves in the Muslim world".