French nationals kidnapped by pirates released

PARIS - Three French nationals who were kidnapped by pirates off the West African coast in September have been released, the French government said Wednesday.

Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner made the announcement with “great joy and relief” that, based on information from authorities in Nigeria, the trio were freed. He gave no further details.

The three were seized by pirates from a French-flagged ship, Bourbon Alexandre, in an attack on an oil rig along the coast of Nigeria Sep 22.