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French government says woman kidnapped in Yemen in February is free, returning to France

Associated Press
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FILE- In this March 5, 2015, file photo, Yemeni activists hold a banner with pictures of kidnapped French Isabelle Prime, right, and her Yemeni colleague during a protest in Sanaa, Yemen. The French government said on Friday, Aug. 7, that Prime, who was kidnapped in Yemen in February, has been freed. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed, File) (The Associated Press)

French President Francois Hollande, left and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius look to France’s Isabelle Prime, center as she hugs her father at Villacoublay's military airport, west of Paris, Friday, Aug. 7, 2015. Prime, 31, had been working in Yemen for the World Bank for about a year when she was kidnapped in February. (AP Photo/Kamil Zihnioglu) (The Associated Press)

France’s Isabelle Prime arrives as she is welcomed by French President Francois Hollande, left and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius at Villacoublay's military airport, west of Paris, Friday, Aug. 7, 2015. Prime, 31, had been working in Yemen for the World Bank for about a year when she was kidnapped in February. (AP Photo/Kamil Zihnioglu) (The Associated Press)

France said a woman who was kidnapped in Yemen in February has been freed.

Isabelle Prime, 31, had been working in Yemen for the World Bank for about a year when she was kidnapped.

She is now in the hands of French authorities and will be returned to France "in the coming hours," according to a statement early Friday from the presidential Elysee palace.

Details of her release, including what group had been holding Prime, weren't divulged Friday.

Prime was abducted in the rebel-held capital, Sanaa, along with her Yemeni translator, who was released shortly afterward.

Earlier this year, a video surfaced showing Prime pleading for help. In the video, she appeared frail and anguished, and she urged the leaders of France and Yemen to allow her to return to France.

Chaos is rampant in impoverished Yemen, with pro-government forces battling Shiite rebels.