Four French Christian charity workers kidnapped in Iraq in January have been released, according to French President, Emmanuel Macron's office.

No details of the release were given, however France's presidential Elysee Palace said it had made "every effort to reach this outcome".

The three French nationals and an Iraqi were abducted in Baghdad on 20th January and worked for Christian charity SOS Chrétiens d'Orient (Christians in the Middle East).

Their release came a day after France said it would withdraw its troops from Iraq due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"The president of the republic welcomes the release of our three nationals Antoine Brochon, Julien Dittmar, Alexandre Goodarzy and Iraqi Tariq Mattoka," it said in a statement.

"The president expresses his gratitude to the Iraqi authorities for their co-operation," the statement added.

In a statement last week the charity said no group had claimed responsibility for the abduction and no ransom demand had been received.

Christians in the Middle East "warmly thanked" French and Iraqi authorities for their efforts following the men's release.