Qatar royal freed by kidnappers

A Qatari royal family member and a Pakistani have been freed by kidnappers in Iraq after nearly four months, Qatar News Agency reported on Wednesday, citing a Qatari foreign ministry statement.

“Efforts are ongoing to set free the rest of the abductees,” the statement added, without giving details about when or how the two were freed.

It is not known if any ransom was paid for the release of the two men, who were freed on Wednesday.

The pair were among at least 28 people, including several members of the Qatari royal family, abducted from a desert hunting party close to the Saudi border in December.

The hostages were abducted when gunmen attacked their camp at dawn, near Layyah in the Muthanna region, officials said.

Nine of the party managed to escape and cross into Kuwait.