By KUNA
Paris : France has expressed relief that a French journalist, Gwen Le Gouil, held captive for 10 days in Somalia, had been released unharmed.
Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, in a statement late on Tuesday, said he wanted “especially to thank the regional authorities of Puntland and notably the President Mohammed Musa Hersi, his advisors and the local community of elders for their willingness to help in managing this affair.” Kouchner also thanked those on the French side who had become involved in seeking to end the kidnapping.
The journalist, who was reporting on human trafficking and the dangers of migration between Yemen and the Horn of Africa, was held since December 16 after he was taken by armed men near the Somali port of Bossaso.
The kidnappers allegedly asked for a ransom payment for the journalists release but any payments of this kind have been denied, although such practices do take place and are generally very discreet.
While France welcomed a happy end to the Somali affair, at the same time it had to lament the killing Monday of four nationals in Mauritania in what looks like it could have been an extremist attack.
Three members of the same family, including two children, and a family friend died after they were ambushed by armed men who fled in the direction of neighbouring Senegal.
Media reports late Tuesday suggested that two suspects believed to have been involved in the attack and robbery are linked with an Algerian-based extremist group that has ties with Al-Qaedas Maghreb wing. The sole survivor of the attack, the father of the family, was seriously wounded and was evacuated to Dakar and will be moved to Paris shortly, official sources said Tuesday night.