Austrian hikers freed by Al-Qaeda in 'good health': governmentThe two Austrians freed by the north African North Africa A region of northern Africa generally considered to include the modern-day countries of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya. North African adj. & n. Adj. 1. branch of Al-Qaeda are "in good health" despite being fed only bread and water during their many months in captivity, the government and a family member said Sunday. "Wolfgang Ebner and Andrea Kloiber are in surprisingly good health," said the defence ministry in a statement. At a press conference at the pair's home city of Salzburg Sunday, Ebner's son said how they survived their more than eight-month ordeal on "bread and water" alone. But it was not made known when they would be discharged from their Vienna hospital. Ebner, 51, and his partner Kloiber, 44, were freed Thursday night after 252 days in captivity and flown home to Austria Saturday. The desert hiking hiking Walking, often among hills or mountains, as recreational sport. It represents an activity in its own right and also figures in backpacking, camping, hunting, mountaineering, and orienteering. enthusiasts disappeared while on holiday in southern Tunisia in February as they were driving in their four-wheel-drive vehicle. A few weeks later, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb claimed responsibility for their kidnapping kidnapping, in law, the taking away of a person by force, threat, or deceit, with intent to cause him to be detained against his will. Kidnapping may be done for ransom or for political or other purposes. . The hostages Persons taken by an individual or organized group in order to force a state, government unit, or community to meet certain conditions: payment of ransom, release of prisoners, or some other act. were moved to northern Mali -- a region that borders Algeria -- where the kidnappers initially demanded the release of a number of Islamic extremists imprisoned im·pris·on tr.v. im·pris·oned, im·pris·on·ing, im·pris·ons To put in or as if in prison; confine. [Middle English emprisonen, from Old French emprisoner : en- in Algeria and Tunisia. Later sources said there were several demands for ransom ransom, price of redemption demanded by the captor of a person, vessel, or city. In ancient times cities frequently paid ransom to prevent their plundering by captors. The custom of ransoming was formerly sanctioned by law. . The Malian and Austrian governments have refused to comment on the circumstances of the kidnapping and the release. While Vienna denies any ransom was paid, sources close to the negotiations say money did change hands to secure a release. A source in the Malian security forces said simply that Ebner and Kloiber were released "1,000 kilometers to the north of the Kidal - Timbuktu road", in a region which borders Mauritania and Algeria. 
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