HEADLINES:
R/€ Somali kidnappers free journalists, 15 months on
November 26, 2009 Edition 1
SYDNEY: The Australian family of Nigel Brennan who was kidnapped in Somalia, spoke of their "overwhelming" joy after his release from 15 months' captivity in the anarchic African nation.
Kellie Brennan, the photojournalist's sister-in-law, fought back tears as she described the family's harrowing emotional journey since his capture in August, 2008.
Brennan was taken near Mogadishu together with Canadian reporter Amanda Lindhout, who revealed that she had been beaten and kept in isolation before a million-dollar ransom was paid for their release.
Kellie Brennan cautioned: "I want to make it really clear to you all that they are still in Somalia and they are not out of danger yet."
She said her brother-in-law remained at a hotel in Mogadishu and would be moved to a safer location and undergo medical checks before being flown home.
"For 462 days our family has hoped this day would come. This has been an unbelievably harrowing and wearying ordeal and nothing could have prepared us for what we have gone through since Nigel's capture," she said.
"This experience has taken its toll on us all and we are only too aware that Nigel is going to need plenty of time and space to re-adjust to normal life."
"I cannot stress enough to you that they are not out of harm's way yet. As soon as he is safe and fit to fly, they will be coming home," she said.
In a phone call to AFP in May, Brennan said he had been kept chained up for months and was in poor health, and begged his government for help.
"I've been shackled for the last four months... My health is extremely poor and deteriorating rapidly due to extreme fever.
"I implore that my government help me as a citizen of Australia (inaudible)... I ask for the help of my family in every way possible so the ransom can be paid for my release," he said.
"I love my country very much, I love my family, my girlfriend," he added. - Sapa-AFP
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