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Somalia hostage tells of escape | Somalia hostage tells of escape |
(20 minutes later) | |
A French security adviser seized by Islamist militants in Somalia has told the BBC how he escaped from his captors without a struggle while they slept. | |
Marc Aubriere was kidnapped from a hotel in the capital, Mogadishu, along with a colleague last month. | Marc Aubriere was kidnapped from a hotel in the capital, Mogadishu, along with a colleague last month. |
He told the BBC Somali Service that after fleeing his Hizbul-Islam captors he walked for five hours until he reached the presidential palace. | He told the BBC Somali Service that after fleeing his Hizbul-Islam captors he walked for five hours until he reached the presidential palace. |
French foreign ministry officials say the second hostage is still being held. | French foreign ministry officials say the second hostage is still being held. |
I'm happy and I will soon see my family Marc AubriereFrench agent | I'm happy and I will soon see my family Marc AubriereFrench agent |
The pair were part of a team who were in the country to train troops from the UN-backed interim government, which is battling Islamist rebels for control of the country. | The pair were part of a team who were in the country to train troops from the UN-backed interim government, which is battling Islamist rebels for control of the country. |
Mr Aubriere described his immense relief at being free. | Mr Aubriere described his immense relief at being free. |
"Of course I feel better than one day ago. Yes I feel very well. I'm happy and I will soon see my family," he said. | "Of course I feel better than one day ago. Yes I feel very well. I'm happy and I will soon see my family," he said. |
He said he had been well-treated and well-fed by his captors from the hard-line Islamist group Hizbul-Islam. | He said he had been well-treated and well-fed by his captors from the hard-line Islamist group Hizbul-Islam. |
But he said was worried about his colleague, who the BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says is being held by another Islamist faction, al-Shabab. | But he said was worried about his colleague, who the BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu says is being held by another Islamist faction, al-Shabab. |
'Without violence' | 'Without violence' |
Earlier reports said Mr Aubriere killed three militants as he fled, but he denied the claims. | |
"I escaped at midnight last night. The guards were very tired and sleepy. I didn't kill anyone or injure anyone while escaping," Mr Aubriere said. | |
France's foreign ministry also denied any violence was used and other reports that he had been freed after a ransom was paid. | |
Meeting al-Shabab Somali justice, Islamist-style | Meeting al-Shabab Somali justice, Islamist-style |
"Despite certain allegations and rumours, this happened without violence and France did not pay a ransom," spokesman Eric Chevallier told reporters. | "Despite certain allegations and rumours, this happened without violence and France did not pay a ransom," spokesman Eric Chevallier told reporters. |
Al-Shabab and Hizbul-Islam control much of southern Somalia, but analysts say al-Shabab is known for being the more radical of the two groups. | Al-Shabab and Hizbul-Islam 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. | 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. |