French Hostages Falsely Reported Rescued

Family of 7 still in hands of kidnappers, say France, Cameroon
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 21, 2013 1:44 AM CST
French Hostages Rescued in Nigeria
French President Francois Hollande.   (AP Photo/Eric Feferberg, Pool)

A French family abducted in Cameroon this week was reported to be "safe and sound and ... in the hands of Nigerian authorities," according to a Cameroon military officer, but now multiple sources including the BBC, Reuters, and France24 are reporting that's not true. France's foreign ministry and Cameroon's communications minister both denied the reports, with the latter calling it a "crazy rumor." There is still much confusion surrounding the hostages' status.

French president François Hollande had suggested that the seven, including four children, might have been kidnapped by the militant group Boko Haram, the BBC notes. (More France stories.)

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