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British reporter freed in Somalia | British reporter freed in Somalia |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Somali kidnappers have released a British journalist and Spanish photographer, officials say. | |
Sunday Telegraph chief foreign correspondent Colin Freeman, 39, and Jose Cendon, 34, were seized on 26 November in the country's north-east. | 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 investigating piracy in Somalia but were captured after leaving a hotel for Bosasso airport. | |
Mr Freeman said they had been treated well but at one point the kidnappers had held a Kalashnikov at his head. | |
The UK Foreign Office and Spanish government confirmed their release. | The UK Foreign Office and Spanish government confirmed their release. |
However, two other foreign journalists, an Australian and a Canadian abducted near the Somali capital, Mogadishu, in August, have still not been freed. | However, two other foreign journalists, an Australian and a Canadian abducted near the Somali capital, Mogadishu, in August, have still not been freed. |
Caves | |
After his release, Mr Freeman said: "Weâre absolutely fine and delighted to be out. Weâve absolutely no problems at all ether physically or mentally." | After his release, Mr Freeman said: "Weâre absolutely fine and delighted to be out. Weâve absolutely no problems at all ether physically or mentally." |
Writing about his experience on the Telegraph website, he said he was looking forward to seeing his family and girlfriend, and having "a strong pint of lager". | |
Mr Cendon, a freelance photographer, said the two men had helped each other through the ordeal. | |
"We tried to cheer each other up all the time," he said. | "We tried to cheer each other up all the time," he said. |
The government's policy on ransom is we don't pay Foreign Office spokeswoman | |
Mr Freeman said that during his 40 days in captivity he had received 10 phone calls from those in London working for his release. | |
"Occasionally, there would be news that the talks to free us were progressing well, but more often the word was of endless complications," he wrote. | |
"Sometimes the kidnappers would threaten to harm us, and on one occasion they cocked a Kalashnikov rifle at my head and made a convincing pantomime of my imminent execution." | |
The Telegraph said the two reporters lived in caves and were occasionally moved as their kidnappers tried to dodge rival gangs or the authorities but were generally well treated. | |
"We survived on rice, goat meat and Rothmans," said Mr Freeman. | "We survived on rice, goat meat and Rothmans," said Mr Freeman. |
"I gave up smoking in 1992 and somehow decided now would be a good time to start up again." | "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. | The alarm was raised when the journalists failed to get in touch with editors after telling them they were bound for the airport. |
The Telegraph said 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. | |
The men 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. | Somalia has been torn by civil conflict since 1991 and much of the country is controlled by Islamist insurgents. |
'No ransom' | 'No ransom' |
Piracy off its coast has become an increasing problem for fishing boats, cargo ships and yachts. | Piracy off its 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 are frequent targets as insurgents bid to collect large ransom payments. |
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, 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." |
A Foreign Office spokeswoman added: "The government's policy on ransom is we don't pay." | |
A Telegraph spokesman said their reporter was "in good health and happy to be free". | A Telegraph spokesman said their reporter was "in good health and happy to be free". |
"The group is grateful to all those who have helped secure the safe release of Colin Freeman and Jose Cendon," he said. | "The group is grateful to all those who have helped secure the safe release of Colin Freeman and Jose Cendon," he said. |
"This is wonderful news and we are delighted that the two journalists will soon be reunited with their families, friends and colleagues. | "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." | "On behalf of their families, the Telegraph would like to thank all those involved in assisting in the release, including the authorities in Puntland." |
Mr Freeman flew out of Somalia on Sunday bound for Kenya. He is not expected to return to the UK until Tuesday at the earliest. | Mr Freeman flew out of Somalia on Sunday bound for Kenya. He is not expected to return to the UK until Tuesday at the earliest. |