article_snippet.sent: A Dutchman abducted by Al Qaeda in Mali nearly four years ago has been freed after a raid by French special forces.
article_snippet.sent: French President Francois Hollande said some militants were killed and others captured.
article_snippet.sent: Some 3,000 French forces are taking part in the mission to stabilize Mali, which was overrun by Al Qaeda -linked extremists until French troops came to the aid of Malian soldiers in January 2013.
article_snippet.sent: A picture released and muzzed by the French Army and the French Defence Ministry shows Al Qaeda Al Qaeda Mali .
article_snippet.sent: Hostage-taking has proved to be a lucrative business in Mali, other Sahel countries and further afield in the war zone of Syria and Iraq.