Cameroon rebels have released 10 hostages they were holding after they had been taken in a raid on an oil vessel in October. Most of the captive men are reported to be from France.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said he was relived to hear that the captives were free and that he was very grateful to the Cameroonian government for its help.

Flag of CameroonRebels took prisoner the hostages off the Bakassi peninsula, and they said they would kill their captives if Cameroon did not agree to further talks.

All the hostages who have been released work for the French shipping group, Bourbon, and the company says the men are in good health and are now safe in the Cameroonian capital, Yaounde.

Eight of the ten men – seven Frenchmen and a Tunisian – would be going back home very soon and the other two that had been held captive were from Cameroon.

AFP news agency reported that no ransom had been paid to secure the release of the men but that it took place after talks involving the Cameroonian authorities and the kidnappers.

– France News