在伊拉克被绑架了157天后获释的法国女记者弗洛朗斯·奥伯纳12日平安回到巴黎,受到热烈欢迎。法国总统希拉克、奥伯纳的家人以及她的新闻界同事和朋友来到机场,迎接奥伯纳回家。
French journalist Florence Aubenas is welcomed by French President Jacques Chirac upon her arrival at Villacoublay’s military airport, west of Paris. Florence Aubenas, and her Iraqi interpreter, Hussein Hanoun, were freed 12 June 2005 after a five-month hostage ordeal in Iraq. (AFP)
A French journalist held hostage in Iraq for five months returned home Sunday, looking radiant and strong as she described months of captivity in a cellar, tied up and blindfolded.
Florence Aubenas, a 43-year-old reporter for the French newspaper Liberation, spent the first minutes of her homecoming embracing her family, then spoke to reporters in a strong, firm voice and in obvious good humor. Aubenas’ Iraqi assistant was also freed.
The French journalist said she had been unbound recently and allowed to watch French television. She was moved to see a news ticker counting off her 140th day of captivity. "You’re so happy to see that, when you’re all crouched over on the ground," she said. "That’s why it was so important to me to thank absolutely everybody here."
Aubenas looked relaxed and joked as she answered questions from reporters. One asked, "how do you feel?"
"Much better," she responded, laughing. She provided no information about the identity of her kidnappers and no details about her release.
President Jacques Chirac, who was among those to greet Aubenas at an airstrip in Villacoublay, west of Paris, where her plane landed, also gave no details.
Former Foreign Minister Michel Barnier, who worked on the case until leaving the government this month, said France paid no ransom , and Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie thanked officials in the DGSE spy agency.
In Baghdad, Aubenas’ Iraqi assistant Hussein Hanoun al-Saadi received a hero’s welcome - hugs and kisses from more than 60 relatives and friends. A band of trumpets played Arab tunes and a sheep was slaughtered to celebrate his homecoming.
A few hundred supporters celebrated Sunday night at Place de la Republique square in eastern Paris by taking down giant photos of the two captives that had hung there to mobilize support.