BAMAKO - French aid worker Pierre Camatte was transferred by Mali security forces to Bamako yesterday after his release on Tuesday by al-Qaeda hostage-takers, a diplomatic source has said.

BAMAKO - French aid worker Pierre Camatte was transferred by Mali security forces to Bamako yesterday after his release on Tuesday by al-Qaeda hostage-takers, a diplomatic source has said.

"He arrived in Bamako this morning. We can say he is in the hands of Mali authorities and there will be a ceremony, but we don't know yet when or where," said Bernard Hunkeler, communications officer at the French embassy.

Camatte was taken hostage by al-Qaeda's north African wing in Mali in November. His release came after Mali freed four Islamist prisoners that al-Qaeda had demanded released by February 22 to ensure Camatte was not executed.

The prisoner swap has angered Algeria and Mauritania, two countries where al-Qaeda cells also operate. - Reuters