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Somalia: Western hostages freed in US military raid Somalia: Western hostages freed in US military raid
(40 minutes later)
Two foreign aid workers kidnapped in Somalia three months ago have been freed in a rare US military raid there.Two foreign aid workers kidnapped in Somalia three months ago have been freed in a rare US military raid there.
US officials have confirmed that elite US Navy Seals were dropped into Somalia to carry out the overnight operation which resulted in a shoot-out.US officials have confirmed that elite US Navy Seals were dropped into Somalia to carry out the overnight operation which resulted in a shoot-out.
A number of the captors were killed, according to local officals. However the two hostages were freed unharmed, a Danish humanitarian group says. The two hostages were freed uninjured, although a number of their captors are said to have been killed. No casualties have been reported among US forces.
The two - a US woman and a Danish man - were seized on 25 October. The hostages - a US woman and a Danish man - were seized on 25 October.
American Jessica Buchanan, 32, and Poul Thisted, 60, of Denmark had been working for the Danish Demining Group when they were abducted by gunmen near the north-central town of Galkayo, hundreds of kilometres from the capital Mogadishu. Jessica Buchanan, 32, and Poul Thisted, 60, had been working for the Danish Demining Group when they were abducted by gunmen near the north-central town of Galkayo, hundreds of kilometres from the capital Mogadishu.
At the time of the raid they were being kept about 40km east of the town of Adado and 100km south of Galkayo - in a semi-autonomous area controlled by a local administration opposed to the Islamist al-Shabab militants but which has no official links to the transitional government in the capital, Mogadishu. At the time of the raid they were being kept about 40km east of the town of Adado and 100km south of Galkayo - in an area controlled by a local administration opposed to the Islamist al-Shabab militants but which has no official links to the transitional government in Mogadishu.
US officials said the captors were not al-Shabab, "these were criminals". US officials told ABC News the captors were not al-Shabab, "these were criminals".
Other remaining hostages in Somalia include a UK tourist and two Spanish medics who were abducted in neighbouring Kenya.Other remaining hostages in Somalia include a UK tourist and two Spanish medics who were abducted in neighbouring Kenya.
'Safe location' Kenya blames al-Shabab for those kidnappings, but the group - which controls much of southern and central Somalia - denies any involvement.
A US official has said the Seals parachuted from a plane into an area near the compound where the two hostages were being held near Adado. 'One hour on ground'
Shots were fired as the team approached the compound, but there were no US casualties, say US officials. A US official said the Seals parachuted from a plane into an area near the compound where the two hostages were being held.
Shots had been fired as the team approached the compound, but there were no US casualties.
Local officials said that eight or nine of the captors were killed.Local officials said that eight or nine of the captors were killed.
The rescue team was on the ground for about an hour and the raid was over by 03:00 (24:00 GMT).The rescue team was on the ground for about an hour and the raid was over by 03:00 (24:00 GMT).
Afterwards, the two freed hostages and the Seals left the area by helicopter for the nearby tiny Horn of Africa state of Djibouti, where the US has a military presence.Afterwards, the two freed hostages and the Seals left the area by helicopter for the nearby tiny Horn of Africa state of Djibouti, where the US has a military presence.
The Danish Refugee Council, which had been involved in efforts to free them via mediation, said they were unharmed and "at a safe location". They were taken to Camp Lemonnier - where about 2,500 personnel are based as well as armour, fighters and drones.
Denmark's foreign minister has suggested that a rescue had become a pressing issue because one of the hostages had a "very serious" disease, although no further details were given.Denmark's foreign minister has suggested that a rescue had become a pressing issue because one of the hostages had a "very serious" disease, although no further details were given.
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." 'Message to world'
The aid workers have been taken to Camp Lemonnier, in Djibouti, which "serves as a key location from which US and coalition forces operate in the Horn of Africa" according to its website. Correspondents say that following the 1993 killing in Mogadishu of 19 US soldiers and the wounding of 70 others, there is no appetite for full-scale US ground operations in Somalia.
About 2,500 personnel - including civilians and defence contractors - are based there as well as armour, fighters and drones. The country has been wracked by two decades of conflict and lawlessness, and has not had a functioning central government since 1991.
Correspondents say that following the killing in 1993 of 19 US soldiers and the wounding of 70 others in Mogadishu, there is no appetite for full-scale US ground operations in Somalia. The current UN-backed interim government controls Mogadishu, thanks to the efforts of a 12,000-strong African Union force.
In a statement, US President Barack Obama said he had personally authorised the mission on Monday and that it constituted "another message to the world that the United States of America will stand strongly against any threats to our people."
The BBC's Steve Kingstone in Washington said the first hint of the successful operation appeared to come from President 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."
In his annual address, the US president praised the US Navy Seals team who killed al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden in a raid in Pakistan in May 2011.