Iraq: The families of Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot, the French hostages who were freed in Iraq yesterday, used the same words to describe their feelings: "It's the most beautiful Christmas present," Chesnot's brother and sister and Malbrunot's mother said.
Chesnot and Malbrunot were kidnapped at Latifiya, 40 km south of Baghdad, on August 20th. They were held for 124 days. On August 30th, the "Islamic Army in Iraq" threatened to kill them if the French law banning the wearing of religious symbols in schools was not repealed within 24 hours.
At least 37 foreign hostages have been murdered in Iraq this year, and about two dozen are still held.
The Élysée Palace confirmed last night that the two former hostages were at the French embassy in Baghdad.
A French air force jet took off for the Middle East shortly after the foreign ministry confirmed their release at 5.30 p.m. The Foreign Minister, Mr Michel Barnier, will accompany Chesnot and Malbrunot back to a heroes' welcome in Paris late today.
On holiday in Morocco, President Jacques Chirac expressed his joy and said he would return to Paris last night. There were standing ovations in the National Assembly and Senate when the news was announced.
"I have the great joy to tell you that Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot have just been freed by the Islamic Army in Iraq," Prime Minister Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin told the Senate. Their liberation was "the outcome of a difficult, constant and secret undertaking," he said.
French media mentioned Chesnot and Malbrunot every day for the four months they were held. Their captivity prompted an outpouring of support and solidarity. "We are mad with joy," said Robert Menard, the head of Reporters Without Borders.
"We're relieved. Until yesterday, we thought there was no movement." Menard said his group would go to Paris City Hall at 11 a.m. today to take down the giant photographs of Chesnot and Malbrunot outside the building. "We'll chill the champagne," he added.
Questions will be raised about whether Mr Raffarin's government paid a ransom. In September, the kidnappers denied they issued a communique on an Islamist website that demanded payment for their release.
A statement from the Islamic Army in Iraq, broadcast on al Jazeera television at 5 p.m. yesterday, said that Chesnot and Malbrunot had been freed "because it has been proven that they were not spying for American forces" and in response to "appeals and demands from Muslim organisations and institutions". A delegation from the French Council of the Muslim Religion went to Baghdad in September.
The group added that the hostages were freed "in appreciation for the attitude of the French government on the Iraqi question, and that of the two journalists regarding the Palestinian cause." The Italian journalist Enzo Baldoni was beheaded by the same group on August 26th. Kenneth Bigley and Margaret Hassan, both citizens of Britain, were murdered in October and November. By freeing Chesnot and Malbrunot, the kidnappers conveyed a clear message that the citizens of countries who participate in the US-led coalition are at greatest risk.
Mohamed al-Joundi, the Syrian "fixer" and former Baathist who was kidnapped with Chesnot and Malbrunot, was found by US Marines in Falluja last month.
In an interview with the Libération newspaper, Mr al-Joundi described the Islamic Army in Iraq as "a grouping of scattered cells, made up of former soldiers who know each other through family ... and who decided to work together." According to Mr al-Joundi, the ransom gained from kidnapping enables these groups "to finance resistance operations". They use Islam, he said, "to legitimate their actions with the population."