Somalia: Belgian and Dutch hostages released

The organisation ...Doctors Without Borders... (MSF) said Tuesday that the two Dutch and Belgian hostages kidnapped on April 19 in Somalia were released, confirming the information given before.

•     “Our organization is extremely relieved to know our fellow free and healthy,” said in a statement Dag Horntvedt, head of mission ad interim for MSF in Somalia.
  
      “The release of our colleagues has been made possible by the strong mobilization of communities and authorities in Bakool and Bay, as well as in the rest of Somalia,” he explained.
  
      He stressed the indignation of ‘Medecins sans frontières’ at the kidnapping of members of his team.
  
      “In a country like Somalia, where many people depend on international humanitarian assistance, such actions have the potential to endanger medical assistance given to the people,” he said.
  
      A chief who participated in the negotiations for their release had announced the release of two hostages earlier by telephone from Mogadishu.
  
      “After days of tough discussions, we finally managed to free the hostages and they are now in the hands of chefs coutumiers. They were officially transferred by the kidnappers, said Hassan Mohamed.
  
      The two doctors were captured on 19 April in the region of Hodur, near the Ethiopian border (250 km north-west of Mogadishu) by armed men while returning from a mission on the ground.
  
      The kidnappers, who released their Somali driver, had demanded a ransom.
  
      
      
  Ennaharonline/ Afp