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Frenchman 'flees Somali captors' Frenchman 'flees Somali captors'
(about 1 hour later)
A French security adviser seized by Islamist militants in Somalia has escaped his captors, officials say.A French security adviser seized by Islamist militants in Somalia has escaped his captors, officials say.
The Frenchman, who was kidnapped from a hotel in Mogadishu along with a colleague last month, reportedly killed three militants as he made his escape.The Frenchman, who was kidnapped from a hotel in Mogadishu along with a colleague last month, reportedly killed three militants as he made his escape.
Nothing is known of the fate of the second hostage, who may have been held by a different rebel faction. Nothing is known of the fate of the second hostage, who is being held by a different rebel faction.
The pair were part of a team training government forces, who are battling the rebels for control of the country.The pair were part of a team training government forces, who are battling the rebels for control of the country.
A spokesman for the interim government, Abdulkadir Hussein Wehliye, said the man who escaped was in the presidential palace and "in a good mood".A spokesman for the interim government, Abdulkadir Hussein Wehliye, said the man who escaped was in the presidential palace and "in a good mood".
Police official Abdiqadir Odweyne told Reuters the man killed three of the militants who were guarding him. Foreign reinforcements
"I cannot understand how this good story happened but now he is in the hands of the government," he said. A government military official, Farhan Asanyo, said the man unexpectedly came up to government soldiers early on Wednesday, identified himself and said he had escaped.
Islamist rebels from al-Shabab and its ally Hizbul-Islam control much of southern Somalia. "The man told them that he was one of the French officials held by militants," Mr Asanyo said.
Meeting al-Shabab Somali justice, Islamist-style
"He said he escaped after killing three of his captors, and we sent him to the presidential palace."
The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan, in Mogadishu, says the two French captives were being held by different factions.
While fighters from the Hizbul-Islam group were holding the man who has now escaped, their allies from al-Shabab are thought to hold the other man.
The two groups control much of southern Somalia, but analysts say al-Shabab is known for being the more radical of the two groups.
Al-Shabab fighters care little for their public image and they have carried out killings on camera.
Both groups are said to have links to al-Qaeda and have been reinforced by foreign fighters.Both groups are said to have links to al-Qaeda and have been reinforced by foreign fighters.
Somalia has not had a functioning central government since 1991.Somalia has not had a functioning central government since 1991.
Moderate Islamist Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed was sworn in as president in January after UN-brokered peace talks.Moderate Islamist Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed was sworn in as president in January after UN-brokered peace talks.
He promised to introduce Sharia law but the hardliners accuse him of being a western stooge.He promised to introduce Sharia law but the hardliners accuse him of being a western stooge.