Al-Qaeda not involved in Dutch couple kidnapping

The kidnapping of Dutch journalist Judith Spiegel and her husband Boudewijn Berendsen had no link to al-Qaeda, Thomas Bruning, general secretary of the Dutch Association of Journalists (NVJ), told Xinhua Wednesday.

Spiegel and Berendsen were kidnapped on June 8 this year in the Yemeni capital Sana'a and were held hostage for six months. On Tuesday, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the couple were released on Saturday.

"Our role was primarily to give instructions to the media not to give too much publicity to the case,"said Bruning, adding that chances of the couple being handed over to a group linked to al-Qaeda would have risen if there was extensive media coverage.

"Kidnappings are always political and certainly financial, but this time it was clear the group had no links to al-Qaeda. The initial intention was probably money, but whether a ransom was paid, I do not know."

Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans said there were no direct negotiations with the kidnappers and no ransom was paid.

Spiegel and Berendsen arrive at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol on Wednesday.