Fourteen Europeans heldhostage in the Sahara by Algerian militants for over five months have arrived in Germany.
The German air force jet touched down at the military partof Cologne airport in western Germany after a six-hour flightfrom Mali's capital Bamako.
The exact terms of their release to Malian authorities onMonday remain unclear and Germany has not commented on reportsthat a ransom was paid. Mali's president thanked Libyan leaderMuammar Gaddafi for helping, but did not say how.
The nine Germans, four Swiss and one Dutch tourist wereamong 32 seized in separate incidents in February and Marchwhile travelling in southern Algeria, famous for its grave sitesbut notorious for smuggling and banditry.