French hostages freed

PARIS – The French president’s office says three French aid workers kidnapped in Yemen have been freed, with the help of the sultan of Oman, after nearly six months in captivity.

A statement from Nicolas Sarkozy’s office thanks the sultan and authorities in Oman for those who helped secure the release.

The statement, released early today, gives no other details.

The two women and one man from the aid group Triangle Generation Humanitaire were abducted May 28 in eastern Yemen. Men linked to al-Qaida’s offshoot in Yemen demanded a $12 million ransom for the three.

Security in Yemen has largely unraveled since the outbreak of an uprising against President Ali Abdullah Saleh in February.