Journalist and driver released in Somalia

Abdifatah Mohamed Elmi, who was kidnapped along with Canadian journalist Amanda Lindhout and Australian photographer Nigel Brennan in August 2008, has been released along with, Marwali, the driver,

“We have been released and we are free now after 177 days of ordeal, but our two foreign journalists are still hostages” Elmi told Agence France-Press. link

Elmi says he doesn’t know where Lindhout or Brennan are being held or if they are in good health. The Somali hostages, he says, were being held in a different place. We have been following this story closely on this post since day one. Hopefully the news of Elmi and Marwali’s release coupled with the recent release of British journalist Colin Freeman and Spanish freelance photographer José Cendón will put greater pressure on the kidnappers to release Lindhout and Brennan.

Photo of Abdifatah Mohammed Elmi in Somalia, originally uploaded to Flickr by noodlepie and taken by Philip Poupin.