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South African hostage’s widow forgives his killers

This is an undated photo provided by the Korkie family, of South African Pierre Korkie. An American photojournalist and a South African teacher held by al-Qaida militants in Yemen were killed Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014, during a U.S.-led rescue operation that President Barack Obama said he ordered because of "imminent danger" to the U.S. hostage. South African Pierre Korkie is believed to have died during the flight, while American Luke Somers died on the ship, according to senior U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because the information had yet to be approved for release. (AP Photo/Korkie Family) This is an undated photo provided by the Korkie family, of South African Pierre Korkie. An American photojournalist and a South African teacher held by al-Qaida militants in Yemen were killed Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014, during a U.S.-led rescue operation that President Barack Obama said he ordered because of "imminent danger" to the U.S. hostage. South African Pierre Korkie is believed to have died during the flight, while American Luke Somers died on the ship, according to senior U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because the information had yet to be approved for release. (AP Photo/Korkie Family)

By Associated Press December 7, 2014 1 min read

JOHANNESBURG (AP) – The widow of the South African hostage killed during a rescue attempt in Yemen says she has chosen to forgive her husband’s killers.

In a statement released Sunday, Yolande Korkie said she was heartbroken by her husband Pierre Korkie’s death.

Issuing a statement for the first time since Korkie was killed by al-Qaida militants during a U.S.-led rescue mission on Saturday, Yolande Korkie thanked Gift of the Givers, the South African aid organization that supported her campaign for her husband’s freedom, and the Yemeni tribes who directly negotiated for his release with his al-Qaida captors.

Pierre Korkie was supposed to be released Sunday after 18 months of captivity under a deal struck by the aid group. Instead, his body is being flown to South Africa Monday.