Militant: Kidnappers free 3 aid workers held in Somalia for more than 2 months

August 26th, 2009 French agent escapes kidnappers in SomaliaMOGADISHU, Somalia — A French security agent kidnapped by insurgents in Somalia escaped early Wednesday, Somali officials said. The agent, one of two kidnapped last month, is safe in the presidential palace and "in a good mood," said Abdulkadir Hussein Wehliye, the assistant information secretary of the presidential palace.

August 26th, 2009 French agent kidnapped in Somalia is freeMOGADISHU, Somalia — A French security agent kidnapped by insurgents in Somalia last month was a free man Wednesday and under protection at the presidential palace, officials said. There were conflicting reports over whether the man escaped or was released and whether he had killed three of his captors.

August 11th, 2009 4 aid workers, 2 pilots released in SomaliaPARIS — Four European aid workers and two Kenyan pilots were released Tuesday after nine months as hostages in Somalia thanks to efforts by officials, religious leaders and businessmen to free them, Somalia's national security minister said. French aid group Action Against Hunger said the six were "apparently all in good health" and will undergo medical examinations.

August 11th, 2009 Sarkozy: 6 aid workers released in SomaliaPARIS — French President Nicolas Sarkozy's office says six people linked to a French aid group have been released after nine months in captivity in Somalia. Sarkozy's office, in a statement Tuesday, welcomed the release of the four Europeans and two Kenyans working for the aid group Action Contre la Faim.

August 11th, 2009 6 hostages freed in Somalia arrive in KenyaNAIROBI, Kenya — Four European aid workers and two Kenyan pilots released in Somalia after nine months as hostages arrived in Kenya on Tuesday, a relative said. The freed hostages were in good condition, said James Kamore, the father of one of the pilots, Duncan.

July 21st, 2009 France could use force to free Somalia hostagesPARIS — France's foreign minister says the country doesn't rule out sending commandos to try to free two French security advisers held hostage in Somalia. Bernard Kouchner says the two men are being held separately, apparently by two different militant groups.

July 18th, 2009 Official: 3 aid workers kidnapped in KenyaNAIROBI, Kenya — Gunmen have seized three foreign aid workers in northern Kenya and taken them across the border into Somalia, a security official said Saturday. Roughly 10 gunmen arrived late Friday night at a house in the border town of Mandera where the workers were staying, shot the watchman in the head and kidnapped the three, the official said, speaking anonymously because he was not authorized to talk to the media.

July 18th, 2009 Official: 3 aide workers kidnapped in KenyaNAIROBI, Kenya — Gunmen have seized three foreign aid workers in northern Kenya and taken them across the border into Somalia, a security official said Saturday. Roughly 10 gunmen arrived late on Friday night at a house in the border town of Mandera where the workers were staying, shot the watchman in the head and kidnapped the three, the official said, speaking anonymously because he was not authorized to talk to the media.

July 16th, 2009 Somali minister: Gov't in talks with kidnappersPARIS — The Somali government is negotiating with the kidnappers of two French security advisers taken hostage in Mogadishu earlier this week, a Somali minister told French TV. Social Affairs Minister Mohammed Ali Ibrahim said the two men, abducted Tuesday from their hotel, had been separated and were being held by two different groups.

July 9th, 2009 Kidnappers in Sudan seek ransom for 2 aid workersKHARTOUM, Sudan — Sudan is negotiating with the kidnappers of two Darfur aid workers for their safe release, preferably without paying the demanded ransom, Sudanese officials said Thursday. Six gunmen snatched an Irish woman and her Ugandan colleague from their compound in the northern Darfur region of Kutum last week.

July 4th, 2009 Ireland seeks release of Darfur aid workersDUBLIN, Ireland — The head of an Irish humanitarian aid agency appealed Saturday for the release of two of its employees kidnapped in Darfur. John O'Shea, chief executive of GOAL, said the group had not heard from the abductors of Irishwoman Sharon Commins, 32, and her Ugandan colleague, Hilda Kuwuki, 42.

June 18th, 2009 17 killed in Somalia as Islamists battle gov'tMOGADISHU, Somalia — Islamic insurgents and government forces pounded each other with mortar rounds in overnight battles in Somalia's capital, killing at least 17 people, witnesses said Thursday. The overnight fighting raises the death toll of Wednesday's fighting to at least 34, making it the worst single day's fighting in the capital, Mogadishu, since mid-May.

April 28th, 2009 Somali gunmen release 2 abducted aid workersMOGADISHU, Somalia — Gunmen released two European aid workers on Tuesday after holding them for nearly 10 days in southwestern Somalia. Rab Dhure District Commissioner Sheik Mohamed Kheyr said elders and an extremist Islamic group helped secure the release of the employees of Doctors without Borders.

March 17th, 2009 MOGADISHU/NEW YORK - Gunmen late Monday released four UN relief workers - three foreigners and one local staffer - after a brief abduction in Somalia, the UN said. Marie Okabe, a spokeswoman at UN headquarters in New York, said that the four were released following a brief detention by the armed kidnappers.

January 4th, 2009 BOSASSO - A Spanish and a British journalist have been freed after almost six weeks in captivity in Somalia's volatile Puntland state, EFE reported. Spanish photographer Jose Cendon and British journalist Colin Freeman were released Sunday morning by their kidnappers in northern Somalia, an official said, adding that the journalists returned to their International Village Hotel here.