Italian hostage held in Mali is freed

An Italian hostage held in Mali for nine months was freed yesterday with two Spanish colleagues after what looks like an exchange of prisoners, said the Italian Foreign Office. 

Rossella Urru, an Italian NGO worker from Samugheo, was released yesterday with her two Spanish colleagues by the Al-Qaeda cell who had kidnapped her. According to the Italian Foreign Office, Urru was released in Burkina Faso by the same Al-Qaeda cell who had kidnapped her, the Movement for Uniqueness and Jihad in Eastern Africa. Urru’s release was granted by an exchange of prisoners and the payment of a ransom.

Actors, presenters and writers had campaigned for Urru’s release. The International Committee for the People’s Development (CISP) worker was held hostage for nine months.  She was captured in Algeria last October, while she was helping out Saharawi refugees in a camp ( you can read my previous post about her here).  She was greeted at Ciampino’s Military Airport by her family and by President Mario Monti.

Urru’s region, Sardinia, is about to start a week of celebration for her release. Sardinian writer Marcello Fois, who has previously campaigned for raising awareness on Urru’s kidnapping, said on Il Corriere della Sera: “[Rossella Urru] has showed our best. She made us proud, she showed she is made of a superior substance.”

Sources: Pier Luigi Piredda on La Nuova Sardegna

Picture by: fattidicronaca.it