BAMAKO, Mali, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- A spokesman for Mali's president confirms 14 European hostages have been released after a five month ordeal in the Sahara desert.
They are reported in reasonable health.
Nine Germans, four Swiss and a Dutch tourist were kidnapped five months ago by an Islamic fundamentalist group.
The 14 were part of a group of 32 European tourists kidnapped while touring the deserts of southern Algeria, known for spectacular scenery but also rife with bandits, the Voice of America said.
Seventeen of the initial 32 hostages were freed in a raid by Algerian special forces in May. Since then, the remaining 14 hostages were held in unknown locations in neighboring Mali.
One of the hostages died of heatstroke while under guard by the kidnappers. Another of the returned hostages is thought to have developed diabetes as a result of the harsh conditions they have endured for the last five months.
