Mali Islamists free Timbuktu hostage

Gunmen in Mali’s rebel-held north released a Swiss woman abducted in the desert town of Timbuktu on 15 April, witnesses and the Swiss government said.

Beatrice Stockly was released by members of Islamist group Ansar Dine, the witnesses said.

Ms Stockly was a missionary who had lived in Timbuktu for a number of years and spoke several local languages.