FRANCE: Two French journalists freed after a four-month hostage ordeal in Iraq returned to a heroes' welcome in Paris yesterday as the relieved government basked in a national wave of joy at their safe release.
President Jacques Chirac and the Prime Minister, Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin, were waiting at a military airport outside the capital to greet Georges Malbrunot (41) and Christian Chesnot (37) a day after they were freed by Iraqi militants. Government officials said no ransom was paid.
However opposition politicians geared up to ask why France had failed to get them released earlier despite its traditional pro-Arab policies and outspoken opposition to the US-led invasion of Iraq.
Family and friends rushed out into the rain to greet Radio France Internationale reporter Chesnot and Le Figaro's Malbrunot , as they left the executive jet. Both gave their mothers long embraces before greeting the other well-wishers. They looked healthy but thinner.
Mr Chirac interrupted a Christmas holiday in Morocco to return to Paris to address the country on television and greet the men. "We owe their release to the mobilisation and unity of all the French people, to whom I want to pay homage," he said.
The seizure of the two men in Iraq on August 20th had deeply shocked the French people and prompted a major publicity campaign which ensured their plight was not forgotten.
Details of their release were sketchy but Mr Raffarin said the conservative government had not bought the men's freedom.
Opposition groups hailed the release but said the government must eventually explain its handling of the crisis.
France's close ties with the Arab world and its opposition to President Bush over the war in Iraq may have helped to secure the journalists' release, but Mr Chirac is sure to face questions about why it took so long.
"We must ask for explanations about all stages of their detention," said Mr François Hollande, leader of the opposition Socialist Party. "Now their freedom has been secured, informing parliament about all the conditions of how the discussions have unfolded since August is the least thing that can be done."
The speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Jean-Louis Debre, said he hoped to obtain more information about a freelance mediation effort by a member of Mr Chirac's ruling party that failed to free the men in October and embarrassed the government.