Burkina Faso says 66 women, children freed from extremists

When soldiers from the presidential guard patroled outside the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako after it was attacked by militants armed with guns and grenades. [AP Photo]

Burkina Faso's army has freed 66 women and children who were abducted earlier this month by Islamic extremists while gathering food in the country's northern Sahel region, according to a state television report Friday.

National broadcaster RTB reported that armed forces had located the hostages during a military operation in Center-North region. The group included 39 children, with four infants among them.