Three of the seven clerics kidnapped in Haiti have been released
The identity of the three freed religious is not yet known (Photo illustration).
© AFP - REGINALD LOUISSAINT J
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The release of three hostages in Haiti was announced Thursday.
They were part of a group of ten people kidnapped ten days ago, near Port-au-Prince.
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The identity of the released hostages was not yet known this Friday morning.
The spokesperson for the Haitian Bishops' Conference just clarified that there were no lay people or French among those released.
On April 11, ten people were kidnapped at Croix-des-Bouquets, northeast of Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital.
They were to attend the installation ceremony of a new parish priest in his new parish.
Seven religious
were part of the group: four Haitian priests, a French priest who has lived in the country for 30 years and two nuns, a Haitian and a French.
The other three hostages are lay people.
Among them, the mother of the young priest, Oxane Dorcélus, was released on April 14 against delivery of $ 50,000.
A suspected local gang
The kidnappers demand a million dollars in ransom.
They have not been officially identified, but according to a police source quoted by Agence France-Presse, suspicion is on an armed gang active in the area, called "400 Mawozo".
Kidnappings for ransom have increased in recent months, causing concern and anger in the country.
►Also read: Haiti: the church and its institutions on strike against insecurity
In the face of criticism, the government resigned and a new prime minister was appointed.
In the process, the National Palace announced "
emergency measures to ensure security
(...)
and proceed with the unconditional disarmament of gangs
".
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Haiti
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