Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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August 26, 2009

French Hostage Escapes from Somali Captors
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=263A7B0:A6F02AD83191E160D1DCF14908E327D93CF5CDEF8FC051DA&
 
Spokesman for French Foreign Ministry says escape happened without
violence, and France did not pay ransom 
Somali officials say one of two French security advisers held hostage
by insurgents has escaped and is now safe in the presidential palace.
Somali
military, police and government officials in the capital, Mogadishu,
say the French adviser approached soldiers near the presidential palace
early Wednesday. A spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry,
Eric Chevallier, says the escape happened without violence, and that
France did not pay a ransom. However, Somali government officials say a
ransom was paid. The
French spokesman denied earlier reports that the agent killed three of
his captors, who were said to be members of the Islamist insurgent
group al-Shabab. The man is one of two French military
advisers seized from their hotel in Mogadishu last month. They were in
the country to train Somali government forces. France's Foreign Ministry
confirmed that the second man is still being held. Two insurgent groups
- Hizbul Islam and al-Shabab - are fighting to overthrow Somalia's
transitional government. The insurgents control much of southern
Somalia, although pro-government forces recaptured two towns last week.
The
transitional government has the backing of the United States, which
fears Somalia could become a haven for terrorists if al-Shabab seizes
control. The Horn of Africa country has not had a stable central
government in 18 years. A
new study released Tuesday shows that half of Somalia's population -
some 3.7 million people - is in need of humanitarian aid. 

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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