NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania (AP) — Abu Hafs al-Mauritani, who was a senior adviser to al-Qaida, was released from a prison in Mauritania over the weekend, his family confirmed.

Sidi Ould Walid said his brother was released after renouncing his ties to the terror network and condemning the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Hafs refused to be interviewed or to be filmed as he left the prison on Saturday.