Did France pay £17MILLION ransom to Al Qaeda for release of four hostages? Claims made as uranium mine workers are freed after three years in captivity

Four Frenchmen held captive by Al Qaeda terrorists for more than three years were due to arrive in Paris today – amid claims that more than £17million was paid for their release.
Pierre Legrand, 28, Thierry Dol, 32, Daniel Larribe, 62, and Marc Feret, 46 were all captured in September 2010 during raids on a uranium mine near Arlit, northern Niger, where they were working for nuclear giant Areva.
The Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) group claimed responsibility and there were always fears that the hostages would be killed.

Hostage for three years: French nuclear worker Pierre Legrand (centre in scarf) arrives at Niamey's airport in Niger with French Defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian (left) after being freed by Al Qaeda

'Ordeal of a lifetime': Thierry Dol (centre) and Daniel Larribe (right) were among four Frenchmen working for nuclear giant Areva when they was snatched by Al Qaeda in a raid on a uranium mine in Niger

Crowds were building up in bright sunshine at the Villacoublay military airbase, on the outskirts of the French capital, where President Francois Hollande was due to meet the men.
Mr Holland and his senior ministers insists that France 'does not pay ransoms' and diplomatic negotiation was used to free the men.

But today’s Le Monde reports that the country’s intelligence agencies paid a ransom of 20 million euros (£17million) for their release.
The paper, which is known to have outstanding contacts in the secret services, quotes an unnamed source ‘with knowledge of the details of the operation.’

Fearing for their lives: This image from September last year shows the men appearing in videos uploaded to the Mauritanian news website Sahara Medias when they were held in captivity by Al Qaeda

Scene: Somair mineral treatment plant near the Areva uranium mine in Arlit, Niger, where the men kidnapped

Travelling with the men on a presidential jet from Niger were Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.
'I am very happy. It was difficult, the ordeal of a lifetime,' said Mr Dol.
Travelling with them on a presidential jet from Niger were Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.
Mr Fabius said the men had spent their freedom ‘sleeping on the floor’ because they had become so used to not having mattresses.

Going home: The men board the plane to Paris, where they were due to receive a heroes' welcome

Escaping the nightmare: Travelling with them on the presidential jet from Niger were Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius

He said all were ‘in good health’, and looking forward to meeting family and friends who had campaigned constantly for their freedom.
Mr Feret will be meeting his three-year-old son for the very first time, as the boy was born while he was in captivity.

Christian Larribe, the older brother of Daniel Larribe, said his entire family were feeling  ‘intense emotion’ and had ‘never given up hope’.
There have been consistent rumours that the French paid a ransom demanded by AQIM, but this was vehemently denied by Mr Le Drian.

PR dream: Their release is a welcome boost for Francois Hollande, a day after a poll showed he is the most unpopular president in French history

Supporting them to the very end: Families, friends and activists demonstrating in Aix en Provence, southern France, in June to mark 1,000 days since the four French hostages were kidnapped

‘France has held the same position for the past three years - we don’t pay,’ said Mr Le Drian, who refused to rule out Areva having footed a bill.
It was a year ago that fears intensified for the safety of the men when it was though they would be executed in retaliation for French military intervention in Mali.
Today’s celebration is a welcome boost for Mr Hollande, a day after a poll which showed he is the most unpopular president in French history.
He launched air strikes and sent hundreds of soldiers into Niger's neighbour Mali in January to drive back Al Qaeda rebels, saying they would use the West African country as a base for attacks on the west.