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British reporter freed in Somalia British reporter freed in Somalia
(20 minutes later)
Somali kidnappers have released a British journalist and Spanish photographer, according to officials.Somali kidnappers have released a British journalist and Spanish photographer, according to officials.
Sunday Telegraph chief foreign correspondent Colin Freeman and Jose Cendon were seized on 26 November in the north-eastern Puntland region. Sunday Telegraph chief foreign correspondent Colin Freeman, 39, and Jose Cendon, 34, were seized on 26 November in the country's north-east.
They had been reporting on piracy in the region but were captured by gunmen while en route to Bosasso airport with two Somali journalists. They had been investigating piracy in the Gulf of Aden but were captured by gunmen after leaving their hotel for Bosasso airport.
Regional security chiefs say they were released without payment of any ransom. The UK Foreign Office and Spanish government confirmed their release.
Mr Freeman told the Reuters news agency the kidnappers had treated the pair well and that they were safe. However, two other foreign journalists, an Australian and a Canadian abducted near the Somali capital, Mogadishu, in August, have still not been freed.
"I am only tired and I am very eager to see my family," he added. After his release, Mr Freeman said: "We’re absolutely fine and delighted to be out. We’ve absolutely no problems at all ether physically or mentally."
However, two other foreign journalists, an Australian and a Canadian abducted near the Somali capital, Mogadishu, in August, have still not been released. Mr Cendon, a freelance photographer, said they had helped each other through the ordeal.
"We tried to cheer each other up all the time," he said.
The Telegraph's website reported that the pair had apparently been seized by bodyguards escorting them to the airport, before being held in mountains to the south-west of the city.
They lived in caves and were occasionally moved as their kidnappers tried to dodge rival gangs or the authorities but were generally well treated, it said.
"We survived on rice, goat meat and Rothmans," said Freeman.
"I gave up smoking in 1992 and somehow decided now would be a good time to start up again."
The alarm was raised when the journalists failed to get in touch with editors after telling them they were bound for the airport.
They were able to make contact five days later and negotiations continued through a family representative.
Somalia has been torn by civil conflict since 1991 and much of the country is controlled by Islamist insurgents.
'No ransom''No ransom'
Wracked by civil conflict since 1991 and with no functioning government, much of Somalia is controlled by Islamist insurgents. Piracy off its coast has become an increasing problem for fishing boats, cargo ships and yachts.
Piracy off Somalia's coast has become an increasing problem for fishing boats, cargo ships and yachts. Foreigners are frequent targets as insurgents bid to collect large ransom payments.
Foreigners, who can be exchanged for large ransoms, are frequent targets. However, Abdullahi Said Samatar, security minister in the semi-autonomous Puntland region, told Reuters: "The two European journalists were freed without any payment of a ransom."
However, in this case, local elders were reported to have secured their release and officials have denied reports that an $800,000 (£550,000) ransom was paid. A Telegraph Media Group spokesman said: "The group is grateful to all those who have helped secure the safe release of Colin Freeman and Jose Cendon.
"The two European journalists were freed without any payment of a ransom," Abdullahi Said Samatar, Puntland's security minister, told Reuters. "This is wonderful news and we are delighted that the two journalists will soon be reunited with their families, friends and colleagues.
"On behalf of their families, the Telegraph would like to thank all those involved in assisting in the release, including the authorities in Puntland."