Three Dutch marines freed by Libya arrive home

The two men and one woman were released early Friday and flown to Athens. The Netherlands says it did not pay ransom or make concessions to Col. Qadhfai’s regime in return for their freedom.

Three Dutch marines held for nearly two weeks by Libyan leader Moammar Qadhafi after being captured in a failed evacuation flight have arrived home in the Netherlands.

The two men and one woman were released early Friday and flown to Athens. The Netherlands says it did not pay ransom or make concessions to Col. Qadhfai’s regime in return for their freedom.

The marines were flown on Saturday to a military air base in the southern Dutch city of Eindhoven, touching down mid—afternoon.

Dutch defence chief Gen. Peter van Uhm greeted the marines as they got off an air force plane to cheers from waiting family members. A woman ran across the tarmac and jumped into the arms of one of the men as they walked toward the terminal.