CAMEROON- Rev.Fr. George Vandenbeusch, a French Catholic Priest who was kidnapped by gunmen in northern Cameroon near the border with Nigeria, has been released.

According to a statement released by President Francois Hollande, the French authorities expressed profound gratitude to the Cameroon government under the leadership of President Paul Biya.

The statement further said Fr. Vandenbeusch is with the Cameroonian army and will be handed over to the French Ambassador in Cameroon.

Mr Hollande said French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius would fly to Yaounde in Cameroon to bring Fr Vandenbeusch back to France as soon as possible.

Fr. Vandenbeusch, 42, was kidnapped by the armed Nigerian Islamist group, Boko Haram which operates in the area where the priest works.

There was no further explanation about his release.