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MADRID, KOMPAS.com - A Spanish woman held hostage in Mali by a group believed to be Al Qaeda's wing in North Africa have been freed, the Spanish government said on Wednesday (10/3/2010).

The government could not confirm reports the Italian news agency Ansa that an Italian woman was released at the same time with the release of a Spanish citizen identified as Alicia Gamez.

Gamez, an aid worker, was part of the aid convoy was traveling south to Senegal when he was abducted in northern Mauritania in November along with two colleagues of Spanish nationality, Albert Vilalta and Roque Pascual. Couple Italy also kidnapped.

"We will continue to work hard to ensure that Albert and Roque could go home as soon as possible," said Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega told a news conference.