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88-year-old Australian doctor free 7 years after kidnapping in West Africa

Australian Jocelyn Elliott, centre, who was freed by al-Qaida captors, walks after getting off an airplane at the airport in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Monday, Feb. 8, 2016. The Australian woman who was freed by her al-Qaida captors after several weeks landed in Burkina Faso's capital early Monday, as family members urged the militants to grant similar mercy to her husband who remained a hostage. (AP Photo/Theo Renaut) Australian Jocelyn Elliott, centre, who was freed by al-Qaida captors, walks after getting off an airplane at the airport in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Monday, Feb. 8, 2016. The Australian woman who was freed by her al-Qaida captors after several weeks landed in Burkina Faso's capital early Monday, as family members urged the militants to grant similar mercy to her husband who remained a hostage. (AP Photo/Theo Renaut)
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CANBERRA, Australia -

Australia says an 88-year-old doctor held captive in West Africa for more than seven years has been released. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Friday that Kenneth Elliott was safe and well and had been reunited with his wife Jocelyn and their children. Elliott and his wife were kidnapped by Islamic extremists in northern Burkina Faso in 2016 near the border with Mali and Niger, where they were running a medical clinic. Jocelyn Elliott was released a month later. Wong said the Australian government and the Elliott family have worked tirelessly toward Elliott's release. She did not detail the circumstances of his release.

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