Big celebration in France over the release of the two kidnapped journalists
Iraq-France, Politics, 12/23/2004

The two French journalists Christian Shino and George Malbrono on Wednesday arrived in their country amid large celebrations after a detention crisis in Iraq lasted for 4 months.

Shino( 37 year old) and Malbrono( 41 year old) were received by the French President Jacque Chirac who cut his vacation for the Easter in Morocco and returned back to Paris to share with his people their happiness of releasing the two French hostages.

The two journalists were also received by members of their families and of the French government in VilakoPlay base where the plane had landed carrying also the French foreign minister Michael Barnier who accompanied them from Cyprus.

Malbrono said that the only problem they had faced was the failed unofficial mediation carried out by parliamentarian Dedieh Julia in September.

The French prime minister Jan Pierre Ravran said that kidnappers did not ask for a ransom nor imposed any condition.

The Islamic army in Iraq released the two journalists in Iraq after 4 months in detention because evidences against them were not enough that they were spies for the US, according to a statement issued on the Internet.

For his part, the French President Chirac said that the release of the journalists was the fruit of "the movement and unity of all French" as well as "the responsible efforts of the government and sides concerned which worked together efficiently." The French president extended thanks to the religious and political officials in France and abroad who contributed to the release of the two journalists. The French political class and media expressed relief over the release of the two journalists.

Previous Stories:
  Two French hostages released   (12/22/2004)
  BBC: French President: situation in Iraq is now more risky   (11/18/2004)
  Barnier: we do hope for the release of the two French hostages shortly   (10/26/2004)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search