Missionaries safe after rescue

BOUAKE, IVORY COAST - A tension-filled two days is finally over for a group of northeast Georgia missionaries.

Twenty adults and children connected with Toccoa Falls College are among those who have been rescued from fighting in West Africa's Ivory Coast.

French troops got everyone at the International Christian Academy out Wednesday afternoon.

"It's quite a relief that the evacuation has materialized," John Schultz told Channel 2.

Shultz's son, wife, and their three girls are safe about sixty miles away from their mission boarding school and the town where rebels have seized control from the government.

Abby Conkle's younger brother Ben is among those who got out safely.

"They said when they were driving out of the school they were waving their American flags because they were taken out by the troops and stuff and they're safe now," Conkle said.

The French convoy headed for the safe area where U.S. special forces and transport planes awaited.