Islamist rebels say 1 Italian, 2 Spanish hostages have been released in north Mali

BAMAKO, Mali – A rebel group spokesman says a linked Islamist group has released an Italian, and two Spanish hostages near the town of Gao in north Mali.

Sanda Abou Mohamed, spokesman for the Ansar Dine group in Timbuktu, says the MUJAO group has released the hostages. MUJAO is allied with the al-Qaida-linked Ansar Dine group and they have fought together to take over the northern part of Mali from Tuareg rebels.