Mali says 82 of its soldiers held prisoner since April have been freed

Mali's army said 82 of its soldiers who had been held prisoner since nationwide attacks in April by al Qaeda-linked militants and a rebel group were freed

on Thursday.



The regional al Qaeda affiliate, Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), and Tuareg-led rebel group, the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), claimed responsibility for the attacks on April 25, which hit the main airport and killed the defence minister.



The two groups also claimed responsibility for attacks on army positions across Mali on July 4.



The army said in a statement the soldiers had been "held hostage" by "armed terrorist groups affiliated with the JNIM-FLA coalition".



"This liberation ... is the result of rigorous planning and the coordinated mobilisation of the capabilities required to carry out this type of operation," the statement said.