Freed Chinese hostages arrive in Cameroonian capital

YAOUNDE - Freed Chinese workers who were kidnapped by suspected Boko Haram militants arrived in the Cameroonian capital on Saturday, said a Xinhua reporter at the scene.

The ten Chinese workers arrived at Yaounde Airport on Saturday morning onboard a plane chartered by the Cameroonian government.

The ex-hostages, who appeared to be in healthy conditions, were received at the airport by Chinese Ambassador Wo Ruidi and Cameroonian government officials.

The Chinese workers were found missing and believed to be taken by the Nigerian Islamist rebels on May 16 after an attack at a Chinese work site in northern Cameroon.

Cameroon's Communication Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary told Xinhua earlier that the wife of Cameroonian Deputy Prime Minister Amadou Ali, who was kidnapped in July, has also been released along with 16 other hostages.

A statement issued by the Cameroonian presidency said a total of 27 hostages have been transferred to the Cameroonian authorities, according to local media reports.