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Somalia: Two Western hostages freed in military raid Somalia: Western hostages freed in 'US military raid'
(40 minutes later)
Two foreign aid workers kidnapped in Somalia have been freed in a military raid, officials say. Two foreign aid workers kidnapped in Somalia three months ago have been freed in a US military raid, officials say.
Unidentified Western officials told AP news agency that the overnight raid was carried out by US military helicopters. The overnight raid was carried out by military helicopters and involved US Navy Seals, unidentified Western officials said.
It resulted in a shoot-out with the captors and the freeing of the two hostages, they said. There has been no independent confirmation. A shoot-out followed but a Danish humanitarian group says the two hostages were unharmed.
The two - a US woman and a Danish man - were seized last October in the north of the country. The two - a US woman and a Danish man - were seized on 25 October.
They had been working for the Danish Demining Group when they were seized. They had been working for the Danish Demining Group when they were abducted by gunmen near the town of Galkayo.
The group helps dispose of unexploded bombs and teaches communities about the dangers of land mines.The group helps dispose of unexploded bombs and teaches communities about the dangers of land mines.
Hostages 'unharmed'
They rescue party is said to have landed close to a compound where hostages were being held
A local security official, Mohamed Nur, told AFP news agency that several of the pirates had been killed.
The freed hostages were believed to have been flown to nearby Djibouti by the rescuers, he said.
They were named as American Jessica Buchanan, 32, and Poul Thisted, 60, of Denmark.
The Danish Refugee Council, which had been involved in efforts to free them via mediation, said they were unharmed and "at a safe location".
The BBC's Steve Kingstone in Washington said the first hint of the successful operation appeared to come from US President Barack Obama himself - as he prepared to give the State of the Union address, he turned to his Defence Secretary Leon Panetta and said "Good job tonight."