Austrian pair freed by Al Qaeda after 8 months

VIENNA - Two Austrians kidnapped in Tunisia by an Al Qaeda affiliate have been released, ending an eight-month ordeal and anguished diplomatic attempts to win their freedom.

Wolfgang Ebner, 51, and Andrea Kloiber, 43, were freed Thursday after 252 days in captivity and were under the protection of Mali's military, Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik said yesterday.

Al Qaeda in Islamic North Africa had claimed responsibility for abducting the pair Feb. 22 while they were on vacation in Tunisia.

The precise circumstances leading up to the pair's release remained unclear, but Plassnik said the kidnappers let them go and Defense Minister Norbert Darabos said no rescue operation had been mounted.

Austria's government had feared the worst after three deadlines set by their captors had expired with no sign of the missing couple from Salzburg - and no clear sense of exactly where they were being held.

The group had unsuccessfully demanded the release of a Muslim husband and wife from an Austrian jail and pressed Austria to withdraw what it said were four Austrian officers in Afghanistan. Austria's Defense Ministry said there were only two officers serving in NATO's force in Afghanistan.

In Mali, presidential spokesman Diarra Diakite said the Austrians were being driven yesterday from the town of Douentza to the capital, Bamako.

Austrian President Heinz Fischer expressed relief and thanked officials in Mali for their help.

"Now the many months of waiting and worrying are over."

Kloiber's mother, Christine Lenz, wept on national TV when she heard news of the release.

"I still can't believe it," she said. "I won't completely believe it until I'm able to wrap my arms around Andrea."