12 European hostages freed in Cameroon

Rome April 4 (IANS/AKI) A group of 12 European tourists released by rebels in southwest Cameroon late on Monday said diplomatic sources on Wednesday.

The hostages included five Italians a diplomatic source told AKI.

The other seven hostages freed by their kidnappers in the Nguti area of Cameroon are Swiss regional daily Voice of the People cited the country s authorities as saying.

The Europeans were taken hostage for several hours on Monday South Africa s eNCA television channel said on its website quoting a statement from Cameroon s Communications Ministry.

The tourists were seized in the Moungo-Ndor area while they were heading for a tourist site called the Twin Lakes according to the ministry statement.

The kidnappers reportedly belong to a movement seeking independence for English-speaking areas of Cameroon.

The country s Anglophones account for about a fifth of the predominantly French-speaking population.

--IANS/AKI
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