This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7947208.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Aid workers 'released' in Somalia Aid workers released in Somalia
(about 18 hours later)
Four UN aid workers, three of them foreigners, have been freed in southern Somalia just hours after being abducted, reports say. Four UN aid workers, three of them foreigners, have been freed in Somalia just hours after being abducted.
A spokesman for the al-Shabab Islamist militant group told Reuters news agency he was with the four and they would be handed over to the UN shortly. "I am very enormously relieved that our staff are free and safe," said senior UN official Mark Bowden in Kenya.
Sheikh Muktar Robow Mansoor said they had been freed from a militia holding them but gave no details. A spokesman for the al-Shabab Islamist insurgents said the group had helped secure the four's release from local gunmen.
UN officials speaking on condition of anonymity also confirmed the release. Al-Shabab controls much of southern Somalia. It is fighting against a moderate Islamist president.
"I can confirm to you that all four aid workers were released from militia who abducted them in Wajid this [Monday] morning - unconditionally after a joint effort," al-Shabab spokesman Sheikh Muktar Robow Mansoor told Reuters news agency.
'No shooting'
The foreign aid workers, whose nationalities were not given, had been travelling with their Somali colleague in a car to the airstrip near Wajid, 340km (210 miles) north-west of the capital Mogadishu.The foreign aid workers, whose nationalities were not given, had been travelling with their Somali colleague in a car to the airstrip near Wajid, 340km (210 miles) north-west of the capital Mogadishu.
They were on a stopover between Puntland in northern Somalia and their destination of Kenya when they were abducted.They were on a stopover between Puntland in northern Somalia and their destination of Kenya when they were abducted.
"No violence or shooting was reported to have occurred during the incident," the UN humanitarian co-ordinator's office for Somalia said in a statement earlier on Monday."No violence or shooting was reported to have occurred during the incident," the UN humanitarian co-ordinator's office for Somalia said in a statement earlier on Monday.
'Joint effort'
Wajid has been controlled by al-Shabab for the past three months although local clan militia also operate in the town.Wajid has been controlled by al-Shabab for the past three months although local clan militia also operate in the town.
"I can confirm to you that all four aid workers were released from militia who abducted them in Wajid this morning - unconditionally after a joint effort," Mr Mansoor added. The UN says 35 aid workers were killed and 26 abducted in Somalia last year, the Associated Press news agency reports.
A local humanitarian worker who declined to be named told Reuters by telephone the four were now back in a UN compound.
The UN says 35 aid workers were killed in 2008 and 26 abducted in 2008, the Associated Press news agency reports.
Somalia has been without a functioning government since 1991.Somalia has been without a functioning government since 1991.
Islamist insurgents are in control of most of southern Somalia.Islamist insurgents are in control of most of southern Somalia.
Puntland is a semi-autonomous region, which has been relatively stable.Puntland is a semi-autonomous region, which has been relatively stable.