Militants 'release' Malian politician and French hostage

The family of the last French hostage held by Islamists in Mali say she has been released.

They say Sophie Pétronin - a 75 year old aid worker - is on her way to the capital, Bamako - though there's been no confirmation from the French government.

Ms Pétronin was abducted by al-Qaeda- linked gunmen in the northern city of Gao where she had been running a charity.

Reports from Mali say that another hostage, the veteran opposition and former presidential candidate Soumaïla Cissé, 70, has also been released by the militants.

He'd been held since March.

There are indications that the releases are part of a deal that includes more than 100 imprisoned jihadists being set free by the authorities.