Kidnappers promise to free Mexican high official

MEXICO CITY. October 15. KAZINFORM Kidnappers have promised to free Diego Fernandez de Cevallos, former Mexican presidential candidate, after his family paid $20 million in ransom, a local newspaper reported Thursday; Kazinform refers to China Daily.

photo: QAZINFORM

Fernandez, who was kidnapped five months ago, will be freed next month, the El Universal newspaper reported.

Fernandez is sick and depressed but in a "stable condition," it added.

Fernandez has been held since May 14, when he was snatched from his ranch in the central Mexican state of Queretaro. Investigators found signs of a violent struggle at the scene; Kazinform cites China Daily.

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