streem
Monday, September 08, 2008
An captured Australian photograph journalist would be released for $3 million, his kidnappers say.
Nigel Brennan, aged 37 and a Canadian journalist were abducted in mid-August while visiting Somalia.
A fellow AFP agency photographer told Fairfax Media that he had been speaking with local elders trying to track down the missing journalists.
Photographer Mustafa Haji said that the captors had set a $2.5 million (USD) ransom.
"I was finally called today by one of them saying that the kidnappers want to talk to the media," he said.
The photographer said that he had spoken to the missing pair.
"When I spoke to them, Amanda said she was well. She passed the phone to Nigel and he said they were OK. I asked, 'Are you Nigel?' He said, 'Yes' and that their situation is all right mentally and physically for the time being."
The kidnappers say if they receive the ransom the pair will be released.
Source: Streem, Sept 08, 2008