Polish priest abducted by rebels in Central African Republic is released

Fr Mateusz Dziedzic, a Polish priest who was abducted by rebels in the Central African Republic last month, has been freed along with 15 other hostages.

In a statement the Democratic Front of the Central African People (FDPC), a Muslim militia, said it had voluntarily handed over the hostages following the intervention of former Central African minister Karim Meckassoua.

The FDPC has been in conflict with the government of the CAR for a decade and was at one point in alliance with the main anti-government militia, Seleka, before they fell out. Their leader, Abdoulaye Miskine, fled to Cameroon last year where he was arrested.

The rebels abducted Fr Dziedzic on October 12 in the west of the country, along with 15 Cameroonians, with the aim of securing the release of their own leader.

However this week the hostages were released in two groups, in the towns of Baboua and Beloko, to Cameroonian soldiers.

In its statement the group said the release was a gesture of good faith in a step towards political talks.