Proof of life video surfaces of pair of men held in Mali sind 2011

Stockholm (dpa) - Video clips of two men held hostage in Mali since 2011 surfaced Wednesday, a proof of life from their kidnappers that could be the first step towards their eventual release.The two men - Swedish national Johan Gustafsson and Stephen McGowan of South Africa - said in their clips that they had reason to think they might be freed soon. In the clips, which were posted on YouTube, they said the date was October 20.The men were kidnapped by suspected Islamist militants in Timbuktu in November 2011 while they were on a motorbike trip."I would like to acknowledge any effort or help from my government in my release," Gustafsson said.He said he was "safe and sound, in good health" and that he missed his family.McGowan thanked the South African government "for continued efforts in negotiating my release."He said he was well and told his family that "I understand that I may be seeing you soon.""I believe that there is a South African organization involved, brokering the release," he added."I thank this organization for everything, for bringing this to a close and having me home soon," McGowan said.Imtiaz Sooliman, the chairman of the South African charity Gift of the Givers, said the organization had been accepted by the kidnappers as the official negotiators."This is the first phase of the negotiations," he told dpa."It took us four months to make contact with them. They have now accepted us as the negotiators and have given proof of life."There is a long road to come, but we are confident that we will make progress."A previous clip of the two was made public in June. That video was released by the media wing of the al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) group, which is reportedly holding several foreign nationals hostage.In April, French troops helped free Dutch national Sjaak Rijke, who was abducted with the two others.Mali is recovering from a 2012 coup and an Islamist insurgency that was pushed back by French military intervention. But northern Mali remains tense. The United Nations maintains a force of 9,000 peacekeepers, including from Sweden. The Swedish Foreign Ministry and Swedish police declined to comment.