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Italian freed in Philippines returns home after 6 months in the hands of Islamic militants

Article online since July 18th 2009, 0:00
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Italian freed in Philippines returns home after 6 months in the hands of Islamic militants

Italian Red Cross worker Eugenio Vagni, center, hugs his wife Kwan, left, and two-year-old daughter Leticia, right, upon arrival at Villamor Air Force base in Manila hours after his release from six months of captivity by al-Qaida-linked militants in the volatile island of Jolo in the southern Philippines Sunday July 12, 2009. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Bullit Marquez

ROME - An Italian aid worker held captive in the Philippine jungle for six months by al-Qaida-linked militants has returned home.

Gaunt but smiling, Eugenio Vagni landed in Bologna on Saturday and continued on to his hometown of Montevarchi in Tuscany.

He told reporters it was good to be back. "especially after this six-months vacation that was very hard."

On Sunday, Abu Sayyaf militants on Jolo Island freed the Red Cross worker, ending one of the Philippines' worst hostage crises in recent years. Italy's foreign minister has said no ransom was paid.

The 62-year-old was kidnapped with two colleagues Jan. 15 in Jolo. Abu Sayyaf later freed the Swiss and Filipino hostages but held on to Vagni, entering into negotiations while troops tried to rescue him.

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