Man who took 3 people hostage at Virginia post office sentenced to 40 years in federal prison

Post office hostage-taker sentenced to 40 years

6 foreigners kidnapped in Cameroon in September are released, government says

6 foreign hostages freed in Cameroon

YAOUNDE, Cameroon — Six foreigners who were kidnapped off the coast of Cameroon in early September have been released, a government spokesman said Thursday.

Suffering in captivity, then suffering to tell the tale: Betancourt details horror in new book

In harrowing book, freed hostage details horror

Pirates attack French marine oil ship off Nigeria, 3 French employees taken hostage

3 French employees kidnapped from ship off Nigeria

French president Sarkozy calls Niger kidnappings ‘worrying,’ pledges to mobilize government

France’s Sarkozy calls Niger kidnappings worrying

French minister to meet Malian president as search for 7 kidnapped by al-Qaida continues

French minister in Mali amid hostage standoff

French interior minister leaves for Mali, will discuss hostage-taking in Niger with president

French minister heads to Mali amid hostage crisis

Al-Qaida North Africa branch claims responsibility for kidnapping 5 French in Niger

Al-Qaida claims kidnapping of 5 French in Niger

French soldiers hunt for kidnapped workers in Niger; Areva acknowledges security ‘breakdowns’

French soldiers hunt for abducted workers in Niger

7 people working for Areva nuclear company, including 5 French citizens, kidnapped in Niger

7 people, including 5 French, kidnapped in Niger

Philippines says police might have shot some hostages in bungled rescue of HK tourists

Philippines says police might have shot hostages

Army: Ex-soldier demanding behavioral treatment takes hospital workers hostage, surrenders

Army: Ex-soldier takes 3 hospital workers hostage

Colorado woman held hostage by escaped prisoner talks about experience

Colo. woman held by escapee talks about experience

Police: Gunman in Discovery headquarters shot; 3 hostages able to escape safely

Police: Discovery gunman shot; 3 hostages safe

Gunman in Discovery headquarters shot by police; 3 hostages able to escape safely

Discovery gunman shot by police, 3 hostages safe

Hong Kong investigators inspect bullet-peppered hostage bus to ease China’s outrage

Hong Kong police inspect Manila hostage bus

Estimated 80,000 people in Hong Kong protest Philippine hijacking that killed 8, demand probe

80,000 in Hong Kong protest Philippine bus tragedy

Relatives weep as they bury Philippine policeman in hostage drama that killed 8 HK tourists

Weeping family buries hostage-taker in Philippines

Philippine president vows punishment in bus hijack, Senate opens investigation

Philippine leader vows punishment in bus hijack

Survivors and remains of slain Hong Kong tourists head home as Philippines grapples with anger

Bodies, survivors of Manila hijack drama head home

Al-Qaida says Spaniards released after some demands met, warns against use of military force

Al-Qaida group says hostage demands were met

China demands answers after 8 Hong Kong tourists killed in Philippine bus hijacking

China anger after 8 tourists die on hijacked bus

Spanish hostages freed by al-Qaida-linked group following prisoner swap, allegations of ransom

Spanish hostages freed by al-Qaida arrive in Spain

Spanish hostages step from helicopter to freedom after 268 days in hands of al-Qaida offshoot

2 Spanish hostages land in Burkina Faso

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso — Two Spanish nationals kidnapped nearly nine months ago by an al-Qaida-linked group stepped out of a helicopter to freedom in Burkina Faso’s capital Monday where they were greeted by diplomats.

Hostage drama on hijacked Philippine bus ends with 9 dead, including gunman

9 killed on hijacked Philippine tourist bus

Hostage drama on hijacked Philippine bus ends with 8 dead, including gunman

8 killed on hijacked Philippine tourist bus

Spanish aid organization confirms release of its 2 workers kidnapped in Mauritania

Spanish NGO: kidnapped aid workers free

MADRID — A Spanish relief organization has confirmed that two of its workers kidnapped in Mauritania in November have been released.

2 Spanish hostages held by al-Qaida offshoot freed in Mali, en route to Burkina Faso

Al-Qaida group frees 2 Spanish in Mali

BAMAKO, Mali — Two Spanish aid workers kidnapped almost nine months ago by an al-Qaida affiliate have been set free, Spain’s prime minister said Monday, ending a hostage drama that involved several nations.

Embassy official: 2 Spanish hostages freed in Mali, en route to Burkina Faso

Embassy official: 2 Spanish hostages freed

France declares war on al-Qaida, attacks base camp of North Africa branch

France declares war against al-Qaida

PARIS — France has declared war on al-Qaida, and matched its fighting words with a first attack on a base camp of the terror network’s North African branch, after the terror network killed a French aid worker it took hostage in April.

2 German aid workers set free 5 weeks after being kidnapped in Sudan’s Darfur region

2 German aid workers abducted in Sudan set free

French premier says al-Qaida may have killed hostage before failed Sahara raid

France announces war against al-Qaida

PARIS — France has declared war on al-Qaida, and matched its fighting words with a first attack on a base camp of the terror network’s North African branch, after the terror network killed a French aid worker it took hostage in April.

Sarkozy: French hostage executed after failed raid against al-Qaida in Sahara left 6 dead

Sarkozy: French aid worker executed in Africa

Ex-hostage Betancourt says she won’t sue Colombia’s gov’t for damages over her hostage ordeal

Betancourt says she won’t sue Colombia government

Navy spox says 12 foreign sailors taken hostage by pirates off Nigeria coast safely released

Nigeria navy says pirates released foreign sailors

Somali cook gives guns to hostage crew who kill pirate captors, but where is Ahmed now?

Somali pirate cook saves hostages, then disappears

Colombian forces find fourth rebel hostage who ran away during raid to free 3 others

4th hostage found in Colombian jungle after raid

Authorities say Calif. man holding 1-year-old hostage in barricaded apartment fatally shot

Calif. hostage standoff ends with man shot dead

1-year-old held hostage in Sacramento apartment appears OK as standoff stretches to 3rd day

1-year-old held hostage in Sacramento appears OK

Man wanted in robberies barricades himself inside Sacramento apartment with 15-month-old

Armed man holds 15-month-old hostage in Sacramento

Man wanted in robberies barricades himself inside Sacramento apartment with 1-year-old

Armed man in Sacramento holds 1-year-old hostage

Armed suspect barricaded for second day inside Sacramento apartment with 1-year-old

Armed suspect barricaded inside Calif. apartment

US backs African efforts to tackle growing al-Qaida offshoot in the Sahara Desert

Al-Qaida offshoot grows in the desert

GAO, Mali — Dozens of Malian troops rush through the sweltering desert, yell war cries and open fire, spitting hundreds of bullets from rifles and machine guns. It’s all part of a training session — run by the United States.

Suspected militants kill around 80 at minority sect’s mosques in eastern Pakistan

Attackers strike sect mosques in Pakistan; 80 dead

Official: Yemeni kidnappers release 2 American hostages to authorities

Kidnappers release 2 American hostages in Yemen

Mother of Somali pirate who pleaded guilty in US court asks Obama for son’s pardon