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GAZA CITY, Feb 11 (AFP): Egyptian diplomat Hossam al- Musseli was freed Saturday after being held for two days by kidnappers in the Gaza Strip, Egyptian diplomatic sources said, without giving details of the release.
"Hossam al-Musseli was freed Saturday, he is safe and sound and in security," one source said, following the pre-dawn release.
A previously unknown militant group calling itself the Al- Ahrar Brigades said Friday that it was holding the diplomat and demanded that Cairo release all Palestinian prisoners within 48 hours.
The ultimatum came as Palestinian security forces fanned out across the Gaza Strip in seach of al-Musseli who was seized in Gaza City Thursday in the first abuction of a foreign diplomat in the increasingly lawless territory.
"We ask the Egyptian people, the diplomat's family and all human rights watchdogs to pressure the Egyptian government to free all Palestinian prisoners in Egypt," it added.
In another statement, issued at the time of the hostage's release, the Brigades stressed their continued demand for the release of Palestinian prisoners.
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