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British aid group worker freed in Somalia
Source: Agencies |
October 20, 2010, Wednesday
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A British contractor kidnapped in Somalia last week whilst working for Save the Children was "on his way to a place of safety", the charity said today.
Regional officials in central Somalia said Frans Barnard was freed late last night some 250 km from the town of Adado where he was abducted.
"We continue to be concerned for him but at this point we are cautiously optimistic," Anna Ford, Save the Children's spokesperson in Nairobi said.
Mohamed Mohamud, an official with the Himan and Heb regional administration said Barnard was now in the hands of the local administration and would later be handed over to the aid group.
He said the Nairobi-based security consultant was in good health.
Kidnapping for ransoms has become a major money-spinner in lawless Somalia, notably among the pirate gangs that plague the Gulf of Aden, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, linking Europe to Africa and Asia.
Somali pirates still hold hostage a retired British couple, Paul and Rachel Chandler, who were hijacked onboard their yacht off Seychelles a year ago.
Within Somalia the capture of foreign nationals has become relatively rare because nearly all aid agencies have barred expatriate workers from operating there after hardline Islamist militants gained control of more territory.
Mohamud said Barnard's release came after talks between local elders and clan militia fighters.
"No ransom was paid. His release happened through negotiations," Mohamud said.
The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it was aware of the reports which it was trying to verify.
Regional officials in central Somalia said Frans Barnard was freed late last night some 250 km from the town of Adado where he was abducted.
"We continue to be concerned for him but at this point we are cautiously optimistic," Anna Ford, Save the Children's spokesperson in Nairobi said.
Mohamed Mohamud, an official with the Himan and Heb regional administration said Barnard was now in the hands of the local administration and would later be handed over to the aid group.
He said the Nairobi-based security consultant was in good health.
Kidnapping for ransoms has become a major money-spinner in lawless Somalia, notably among the pirate gangs that plague the Gulf of Aden, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, linking Europe to Africa and Asia.
Somali pirates still hold hostage a retired British couple, Paul and Rachel Chandler, who were hijacked onboard their yacht off Seychelles a year ago.
Within Somalia the capture of foreign nationals has become relatively rare because nearly all aid agencies have barred expatriate workers from operating there after hardline Islamist militants gained control of more territory.
Mohamud said Barnard's release came after talks between local elders and clan militia fighters.
"No ransom was paid. His release happened through negotiations," Mohamud said.
The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it was aware of the reports which it was trying to verify.
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