Region | Somalia
Somali gunmen kidnap 2 Western journalists, say residents
Gunmen kidnapped two Western journalists on Saturday near Somalia's capital Mogadishu, residents and a security source said.
- Agencies
- Published: 18:16 August 23, 2008
Mogadishu: Somalia's journalist union identified two Western journalists kidnapped while travelling near Mogadishu a day earlier.
The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) said gunmen kidnapped Amanda Lindhout, a Canadian based in Baghdad, but freelancing for French Television and Canada's Global National News.
An earlier report on Canada-based news website, National Post quoted the 26-year-old reporter's father, John Lindhout, as saying she had recently arrived in the country with an Australian friend.
NUSOJ identified the Australian as Nigel Brennan, a 27-year-old freelance photojournalist.
A local translator and a local driver were also seized in the kidnapping, it said.
"No formal claim of responsibility has been made and the motive for the kidnapping remains unknown. As well, there have been no demands," the NUSOJ said in a statement.
Information received early on Sunday suggested militiamen were holding the pair hostage in Mogadishu's northeastern district of Suqa Holaha, it said.
The Somali government said that a hunt has been started on Sunday for the abducted trio and that authorities are closely following their situation.
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