A hospital official says two Austrians held hostage for eight months in Africa by an al-Qaida affiliate are in "surprisingly good condition", as one relative disclosed that for a while they survived on just bread and water, the Associated Press reported.
Al-Qaida in Islamic North Africa abducted 51-year-old Wolfgang Ebner and 43-year-old Andrea Kloiber Feb. 22 while they were on vacation in Tunisia. They were released Thursday in the West African nation of Mali after 252 days in captivity.
"Andrea Kloiber and Wolfgang Ebner are in surprisingly good condition," said Michael Aichmair, head of the Vienna military medical facility where the pair were taken upon their return late Saturday. "At this time, we're still doing comprehensive medical checks on both of them."
Ebner's son Bernhard said the couple had a very restricted diet in captivity.