One of two French security advisers kidnapped by insurgents in Somalia has made a dramatic escape
Police said the hostage killed three of his captors, but Marc Aubriere denied responsibility for the deaths, saying he slipped away while his guards were sleeping. Militants seized Mr Aubriere and a colleague at a hotel in the capital on July 14 and handed one to the Hizbul Islam rebels and the other to fighters from the al Shabaab group - described by the US as al-Qaeda's proxy in the Horn of Africa state. He fled to the presidential palace in Mogadishu and was later taken to a base used by African Union peacekeepers.Senior police commander Abdiqadir Odweyne said: "We understand he killed three al Shabaab guys who were guarding him. I cannot understand how this good story happened but now he is in the hands of the government."But Mr Aubriere was quoted as saying: "I'm happy and I will soon see my family. The guards were very tired and sleepy. I didn't kill anyone or injure anyone while escaping."An al Shabaab source said: "Three of my friends died but who killed them is the question. We were expecting a ransom this morning." A spokesman for the French foreign ministry said: "Contrary to certain allegations and rumours, this occurred without violence and France did not pay any ransom. The second hostage is still being held."A Somali government official and some media said last month that the two Frenchmen had been posing as journalists. Paris has denied that, saying they were on official government business.
French Agent Kidnapped in Somalia Is Free
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