Joy as Australian released from brutal Somali kidnapping

SYDNEY - Emotional relatives of Somalia kidnap victim Nigel Brennan expressed joy on Thursday at his release from more than a year of brutal captivity, when he was pistol-whipped and spent months in chains.Sister-in-law Kellie Brennan fought back tears as she recounted the family's nerve-wracking vigil since the photojournalist's capture along with Canadian reporter Amanda Lindhout in August 2008."It's very hard to express the overwhelming sense of joy that we have today that we feel as a family at the news of Nigel and Amanda's release," she told reporters.One kidnapper, who did not want to be identified, told AFP that a one-million U.S. dollar ransom was paid to free the pair, who left Mogadishu by plane under heavy pro-government militia escort on Thursday but their destination was unknown.Brennan's family said he was to be flown out for medical checks before returning home.Queensland Premier Anna Bligh shed light on the photographer's grim ordeal."Mr Brennan has revealed that he had been pistol-whipped and locked in chains for the past 10 months after a failed escape attempt," she told state parliament.In May, Brennan, 38, told AFP by phone that he was in fading health and had been in chains for months, and begged his government for help.
Canberra refused to comment on what, if any role it had played in securing Brennan's release, or whether it objected to the payment of a ransom...more..http://www.canada.com/news/Australian+photographer+pistol+whipped/2268686/story.html