Two foreign journalists kidnapped in Somalia

October 6th, 2009 Somali minister for defense seized in UgandaMOGADISHU, Somalia — Gunmen seized Somalia's state minister for defense Tuesday during a trip to the Ugandan capital, a Somali government spokesman said. Minister Yusuf Mohamed Siad was picked up as he walked out of a mosque in Kampala, Somali government spokesman Sheik Abdirisaq Qeylow said.

October 6th, 2009 Somali minister for defense kidnapped in UgandaMOGADISHU, Somalia — Gunmen kidnapped Somalia's state minister for defense Tuesday during a trip to the Ugandan capital, a Somali government spokesman said. Minister Yusuf Mohamed Siad was abducted as he walked out of a mosque in Kampala, Somali government spokesman Sheik Abdirisaq Qeylow said.

October 6th, 2009 Somali defense minister kidnapped in UgandaMOGADISHU, Somalia — An official says Somalia's defense minister has been kidnapped in Uganda's capital. A Somali government spokesman says Defense Minister Yusuf Mohamed Siad was abducted Tuesday as he walked out of a mosque in the Ugandan capital, Kampala.

October 3rd, 2009 Militant: 3 aid workers freed in SomaliaMOGADISHU, Somalia — Kidnappers on Saturday released three foreign aid workers they had held in Somalia for more than two months, an Islamic militia commander said. Hizbul Islam commander Sheik Abdullahi Nor said he saw the three former hostages board a small plane Saturday in the southwestern Somali town of Luq.

August 26th, 2009 French hostage escapes in Somalia, officials sayMOGADISHU, Somalia — One of a pair of French security agents kidnapped by insurgents in Somalia last month has escaped, Somali officials said Wednesday. A military officer said the man is believed to have killed three of his captors.

August 26th, 2009 French agent kidnapped in Somalia escapesMOGADISHU, Somalia — A French security agent kidnapped by insurgents in Somalia last month said he escaped Wednesday while his captors slept, then walked five hours through one of the most dangerous cities in the world to safety at the country's presidential palace. Marc Aubriere, who was seized along with another agent in July 14, denied reports that he killed any of his captors during his escape.

August 26th, 2009 French agent kills captors, escapes in SomaliaMOGADISHU, Somalia — A French security agent kidnapped by insurgents in Somalia has escaped, reportedly by killing three of his captors, Somali officials said Wednesday. 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 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.

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 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 14th, 2009 2 French security advisers seized at Somali hotelNAIROBI, Kenya — Two French security advisers on a mission to train Somali forces were kidnapped Tuesday at a hotel where they had checked in as journalists, officials and witnesses said. About 10 gunmen arrived at the Sahafi Hotel in a small car and a pickup truck mounted with machine guns before several of the men disarmed the guards and stormed inside, said Abdi Mohamed Ahmed, a witness who runs a tea shop nearby.

July 14th, 2009 Witnesses: 2 French journalists seized in SomaliaMOGADISHU, Somalia — Gunmen kidnapped two French journalists from their hotel in the Somali capital Tuesday, the hotel manager and an eyewitness said. Abdi Mohamed Ahmed, who owns a teashop in front of the Sahafi Hotel in Mogadishu, said about 10 gunmen arrived in pickup trucks and a small car and disarmed the hotel guards.

June 9th, 2009 UN: Atrocities in Somalia force 100,000 to fleeMOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalis are experiencing near-daily atrocities, including rape, the shelling of civilian areas and fighting that has forced more than 100,000 to flee their homes since May, the U.N. refugee agency said Tuesday.

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.