Hopes rise for Sahara hostages

Some of the European hostages were released in May

There are indications that 14 European tourists who have been held hostage in the Sahara desert for several months could soon be on their way home.

Reports from Mali said the nine Germans, four Swiss and one Dutchman were released late on Sunday in the town of Tessalit, in the north-eastern region of Kidal.

However, the report has not yet been confirmed by the Malian or German governments.

The report follows days of speculation about a release and the arrival in Mali of German Deputy Foreign Minister, Juergen Chrobog.

The hostages were abducted by suspected Islamic extremists in Algeria earlier this year.

Earlier on Sunday, Germany's ZDF television reported the 14 were freed after a Malian negotiator gave a ransom to the hostage-takers. It said the money did not come from the German Government.

Tuareg leader

On Friday, Mr Chrobog said he was confident of achieving their release.

The abductees were travelling in the Algerian Sahara without guides

The minister had flown into the Malian capital, Bamako, on a medically equipped aircraft and has said all measures are in place for an evacuation.

A source close to the negotiations had said on Saturday: "There is enormous progress, it is very possible that the hostages will be freed on Monday."

The source said if they were not freed by then, it might be necessary to wait "four weeks, because everything depends on the hostage-takers". He did not elaborate.

The Malian Government has been negotiating with the kidnappers through a mediator - local Tuareg leader Iyag Ag Ghali.

Those still being held are among 32 seized while travelling without guides in southern Algeria between February and March this year.

It was thought they were being held in Mali by an Algerian organisation known as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat, which is fighting for an Islamic state in the region.

Seventeen were freed when Algerian soldiers reportedly raided the kidnappers' camp in May.

One of the hostages, a German woman, is said to have died from heatstroke while in captivity.