First photos of freed hostages after French rescue mission in Burkina Faso
The hostages offer condolences to the families of soldiers killed during their rescue and speak of the "hell" they experienced.
Saturday 11 May 2019 18:58, UK
The first pictures of hostages freed following an operation by French troops in Burkina Faso have emerged after two French soldiers were killed during their rescue.
Two French tourists were taken hostage in neighbouring Benin along with a South Korean and an American before being rescued across the border.
On Saturday, they offered their condolences to the families of the two soldiers killed in the operation, which took place on Thursday night.
The two Frenchmen, Laurent Lassimouillas and Patrick Picque, along with the unidentified South Korean woman met the president of Burkina Faso, Roch Kabore, at the presidential palace in Ouagadougou.
The three were welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron at a military airport near Paris later on Saturday following their departure from the west African nation.
The American, who has also not been identified, is being flown back to the United States.
Mr Lassimouillas told reporters: "All our thoughts go to the families of the soldiers and to the soldiers who lost their lives to free us from this hell.
"We wanted to present our condolences right away to those families because we feel ambivalent about everything that happened to us."
French officials have named the two soldiers killed as naval special forces officers Cedric de Pierrepont and Alain Bertoncello.
The freed Frenchman also expressed regret over the death of the Beninese park guide, who was killed during the safari kidnapped.
It is not clear who took the tourists captive but French officials described them as "terrorists" who intended to hand them over to an al Qaeda affiliate in neighbouring Mali.
In a statement from the Elysee Palace, a spokesperson said Mr Macron wished to congratulate the French army for their work.
"He solemnly recognises the sacrifice of our two soldiers, who gave their lives to save those of our fellow citizens," they said. "He sends his heartfelt condolences to their families, their friends and their brothers in arms, and offers them all the solidarity of the nation in these difficult times.
"The president of the republic also thanks the Beninese and Burkinabe authorities for their close cooperation. He assured them of France's full willingness to help them in their fight against terrorism in the Sahel."