Swede man held captive in Mali since 2011 freed

STOCKHOLM, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Johan Gustafsson, the 42-year-old Swede man kidnapped by al-Qaida linked group in Mali since 2011, has been released, the Swedish Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

"It is with great pleasure that I can announce that Johan Gustafsson has been released and can return to Sweden," Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom said in a statement on the government website.

"Johan's situation has touched many of us, and extensive efforts have been made to secure his release," she said.

According to Swedish newspaper Expressen, Gustafsson is right now sitting on a plane bound for Sweden.