Embassy official: 2 Spanish hostages freed in Mali, en route to Burkina Faso

Embassy official: 2 Spanish aid workers freed

BAMAKO, Mali — An official at a Western embassy in Mali’s capital says an affiliate of al-Qaida has freed two Spanish aid workers after kidnapping them almost nine months ago .

The embassy official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the press, said Monday the Spaniards are being taken to Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, and will travel from there to Spain.

Roque Pascual, Albert Vilalta and their colleague Alicia Gamez were kidnapped Nov. 29 in Mauritania while delivering supplies to poor villages. The three were taken to Mali.

Gamez was freed in March after the al-Qaida offshoot said she had agreed to convert to Islam.