article_snippet: (CNN)Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has freed a Saudi diplomat CNN)Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula kidnapped three years ago, Yemeni Foreign Ministry officials told CNN.
article_snippet: Tribal leaders involved in negotiations with al Qaeda over the last month handed Abdullah Al Khalidi to Saudi authorities on Monday, two Yemeni government officials said.
article_snippet: Unknown gunmen kidnapped Al Khalidi, the Saudi deputy consular, in 2012 as Abdullah Al Khalidi was leaving Abdullah Al Khalidi residence in the Mansoora district of Yemen's business capital of Aden.
article_snippet: Abdullah Al Khalidi was later handed over to al Qaeda, where Abdullah Al Khalidi appeared in al Qaeda video last year pleading to the Saudi government to ensure Abdullah Al Khalidi safe release.
article_snippet: al Qaeda was demanding a ransom for his safe release and threatened to kill al Qaeda if a ransom for his release was not paid.
article_snippet: CNN was not able to confirm whether Saudi Arabia or al Qaeda family paid a ransom in exchange for his safe release.
article_snippet: A Yemeni Foreign Ministry official told CNN that A Yemeni Foreign Ministry official was not involved in the negotiations for his safe release.
article_snippet: the Saudi government does not negotiate with terrorists.
article_snippet: Al Khalidi had been living in Aden for four years when Al Khalidi was kidnapped.
highlights_snippet: Gunmen kidnapped the diplomat, Abdullah Al Khalidi, in Aden, Yemen, in 2012 .