Five million Euros, a Libyan ransom to release Mali's European hostages

Diplomatic sources in Bamako said yesterday that Libya paid a ransom of 5 million Euros, at its own special initiative, for the kidnappers of the 14 European hostages who were held for more than 5 months in the desert.

The sources said that "the ransom was paid, at the initiative of Libya itself, and that the money did not pass through officials from Mali, nor via Germany."

Another diplomatic source confirmed the latest of these news and considered that the "Libyan President Mu'ammar al-Qathafi who is working to restore back his international dignity" made this gesture "in order to repay all his accounts."

The sum was handed over to the leader of the high-jacking mediator chosen by Tripoli. However, the sources did not explain the identity of the mediator, nor gave information on the history and place of handing over the ransom.