All six French aid workers convicted of a mass kidnapping in Chad have been freed in France, hours after the Chadian president formally pardoned the group, the French Justice Ministry said.

Two prison guards taken captive after a failed escape attempt were freed today, nearly 24 hours after being taken hostage.

Tense negotiations were continuing today with armed prisoners holding two guards hostage at a high security Paris prison - nearly 20 hours after a failed escape attempt via helicopter.

Prisoners took three security guards hostage at a Paris jail after a failed escape attempt involving a hijacked helicopter.