This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-africa-13918991

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Somalia: Three Britons pardoned by president Somalia: Three Britons pardoned by president
(about 1 hour later)
Somalia has pardoned three Britons convicted for bringing more than $3m (£2m) in cash illegally into the country. Somalia has pardoned three Britons caught illegally bringing more than $3m (£2m) in cash into the country to pay a ransom to Somali pirates.
An American and two Kenyans were also jailed with the trio last week, after they were arrested on 24 May shortly after arriving by plane in Mogadishu. The three of them, together with an American and two Kenyans, were arrested on 24 May shortly after flying into Mogadishu airport with the money.
All six men, who have not been officially named, were pardoned by the president of the interim government. All six, who have not been officially named, were sentenced to jail but the president has since pardoned them.
The Foreign Office has not commented on the pardons or where the Britons are. The group has left Somalia without the money which the government confiscated.
The cash they were carrying was allegedly to pay ransoms to pirates for ships they hold. They were also told to pay $100,000 (£62,000) to get their planes released.
The Foreign Office has not commented on the pardons.
Cash retainedCash retained
Government spokesman Abdirahman Omar Osman said the six men would be freed after the court completed processing their release, and fines were paid. Government spokesman Abdirahman Omar Osman said: "Because of their illegal arrival, the two planes were each fined $50,000 [£31,000]. And the $3.6m in cash has been taken by the government."
"Because of their illegal arrival, the two planes were each fined $50,000 [£31,000]. And the $3.6m in cash has been taken by the government.
"They may fly today or tomorrow. It depends on their departure process," he said on Sunday.
The two men accused of carrying the cash received 15-year sentences and were also fined $15,000 (£9,000) each.The two men accused of carrying the cash received 15-year sentences and were also fined $15,000 (£9,000) each.
The other four men - two pilots and their assistants - received 10-year sentences and fined $10,000 (£6,000). The other four men - two pilots and their assistants - received 10-year sentences and fines of $10,000 (£6,000).
This is the first time Westerners have been sentenced for involvement in delivering ransoms. It is not clear why this group of men fell foul of the authorities. On Sunday however, President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, of the interim government, pardoned all six men.
The Somali government officially opposes the payment of ransoms, but the practice has become routine. This was the first time Westerners have been sentenced for involvement in delivering ransoms.
The Somali government officially opposes the payment of ransoms but the practice has become routine. It is not clear why this group of men fell foul of the authorities.
The BBC's East Africa correspondent Will Ross said: "Almost all the ships to have been held by Somali pirates have only been released after the payment of a hefty ransom - often several million dollars."
He said ransoms were usually air-dropped onto hijacked ships by secretive security firms.
"One government minister said the episode was proof that westerners were fuelling the piracy off the Somali coast," he added.
The UN says more than $110m in ransoms were paid to Somali pirates last year.The UN says more than $110m in ransoms were paid to Somali pirates last year.